
THE STORY OF 

UR NAVY 



YOUNG AMERICANS 

W.LIS J. ABBOT 



**-?•■ 





Copyright N°_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE STORY OF OUR NAVY 
FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 



THE STORY OF 

OUR NAVY 

FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 

From Colonial Days to the 
Present Time 

BY 

WILLIS JOHN ABBOT 

Author or The Blue Jacket Series, The Battlefield Series, 
American Merchant Ships and Sailors 

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS 




NEW YORK 
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 

1910 



A' 



Copyright, iqio, by 
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 



Published, September, igio 



THE OUINN « BODEN CO. PRESS 

RAHWAr, N. J. 



©G!,A273i45 



NOTE 

This volume is rather a story, than the history of the 
United States Navy. Within its compass is not space 
for all the events, or even for mention of all the figures 
in America's defence of her honor upon the seas. 
Rather does it aim to give a running narrative of the 
course of the development of the United States Navy 
to its present position as second in the world, and to 
tell the story of the picturesque features of its early 
struggles and its later triumphs. 

The author desires to express his thanks to the Hon. 
Theodore Sutro, of New York, for permission to use the 
copyrighted reproductions of certain paintings by the 
distinguished marine artist Edward Moran. The fine 
examples represented In this book are chosen from 
thirteen paintings which typify thirteen chapters in the 
history of America on the Sea. They are, at this writ- 
ing, hung in the National Museum at Washington, and 
it is the hope of many, the writer included, that they 
may be acquired by the United States Government to 
at once educate and stimulate American Interest in the 
achievements of the nation on the oceans. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER I 

PAGE 

The Navy of Colonial Days — Discontent in the Colonies — The 
Evil of Impressment — Destruction of the " Gaspee " — John 
Manly, Father of the American Navy — The First Ship's 
Roster — The Many Flags i 

CHAPTER n 

Paul Jones, the First Great American Seafighter, but to the 
British a Pirate — In Command of the " Ranger " — His In- 
vasion of England lo 

CHAPTER HI 

Career of Paul Jones Continued — His Descent upon the Castle 
of Lord Selkirk — The Affair of the Plate — The Descent 
upon Whitehaven — The Battle with the " Drake " . . .18 

CHAPTER IV 

The Career of Paul Jones Continued — His Search for a Ship 
— Given Command of the " Bon Homme Richard " — Landais 
and His Character — The Frustrated Mutiny — Landais Quar- 
rels with Jones — Edinburgh and Leith Threatened — The 
Dominie's Prayer — The Battle with the " Serapis " . . .29 

CHAPTER V 

Britain's Great Naval Force — Biddle and Tucker — An Envoy in 
Battle — The Cruise of the " Raleigh " — The Taking of New 
Providence — The Work of Privateers and Colonial Cruisers 
— The " Alliance " and Captain Barry 56 

CHAPTER VI 

Work of the Privateers — The " General Hancock " and the 
" Levant " — Exploit of the " Pickering " — Raiding Nova 
Scotia — " Congress " and " Savage " — " Hyder Ali " and 
" General Monk " 81 



viii CONTENTS 

CHAPTER VII 

PAGE 

The Barbary Corsairs — America Finally Resists Piracy — Bain- 
bridge and the " Philadelphia " — Decatur's Daring Exploit — 
An Attack on the Tripolitan Gunboats — The Fireship at 
Tripoli 96 

CHAPTER VIII 

The Quasi-war with France — " Constellation " and " Insurgente " 
—Decatur Once More — "Little Jarvis," a Boy Hero . . 115 

CHAPTER IX 

War of 1812 — British Pressgang Methods — The " Chesapeake " 
and " Leopard " — The " President " and " Little Belt " — 
Disparity of the Two Navies — " Constitution " and " Guer- 
riere " 125 

CHAPTER X 

Three Fierce Naval Duels—" United States " and " Macedonian " 
— "Wasp" and "Frolic" — "Constitution" and "Java" . 147 

CHAPTER XI 

The War on the Lakes— Building a Fresh Water Navy— Perry 
at Put-in-Bay— McDonough on Lake Champlain . . .171 

CHAPTER XII 

The " Hornet " and " Peacock "—Escape of the " Constellation " 
— Cruise of the " President " — " Chesapeake " and " Shan- 
non " — " Argus " and " Pelican " — " Enterprise " and 
"Boxer" 202 

CHAPTER XIII 

The Cruise of the " Essex "—A Twelve-Year-Old Captain- 
War with the Aborigines— A Squadron of Prizes— Trapped 
in Port— The Loss of the " Essex " 229 

CHAPTER XIV 

" Peacock " and " Epervier "—The Disappearance of the 
" Wasp "—Bombardment of Stonington— The Capture of 
Washington— Fort McHenry— Battle of New Orleans . . 248 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER XV 

Constitution," " Cyane," and " Levant' '-Loss of the "Presi- 
dent "—Captain Reid— The "General Armstrong — Pea- 
cock" and " Nautilus "—Close of the War 



CHAPTER XVI 



Peace Again-The Decadence of the Navy-Its Work in the 
Mexican War-Perry and Japan-The Battle in the Pei Ho 
—"Blood Thicker than Water" 2»3 



CHAPTER XVII 

The Civil War— Secretary Dix's Stirring Dispatch— the South 
Destitute of Warships— The Blockade— Burning the Norfolk 
Navy-Yard— The Escape of the " Sumter "—The Hatteras 



Forts 



294 



CHAPTER XVIII 

A Romance of Commerce and War-The Blockade Runners— 
What the Trade Paid-How It Was Checked— Nassau s 
Days of Prosperity ^^^ 

CHAPTER XIX 

The Trent Affair— Narrow Escape from War with England— 
Cushing and His Exploits— Destruction of the ' Albemarle 
—Loss of the "Harriet Lane" 324 



CHAPTER XX 

On Inland Waters-The River Gunboats-U. S Grant at Bel- 
mont-Capture of Forts Henry and Donelson-Northern 
Line of the Confederacy Broken— Stubborn Defense of 
Island No. 10— A New Channel for the Mighty River- 
Running the Gauntlet 34i 

CHAPTER XXI 

The Expedition to Port Royal-The First Great Ironclad-How 
the "Merrimac" Changed Naval Architecture-Destruction 
of the " Congress " and the " Cumberland —Timely Arrival 
of the " Monitor "—End of the " Merrimac . . . • 35» 



X CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXII 

Moving up the Mississippi — The Ram " Manassas " — Farragut's 
Expedition — Porter's Mortar-Boats — Passing the Forts — 
Capture of New Orleans 380 

CHAPTER XXIII 

Surrender of Forts St. Philip and Jackson — The Navy at Port 
Hudson — On the Yazoo River — The Ram " Arkansas " — The 
" Webfooted Gunboats " — In the Bayous — Rescued by the 
Army — Commodore Porter's Joke — Running the Batteries . 398 

CHAPTER XXIV 

Farragut at Mobile — Loss of the " Tecumseh " — Craven's Gallant 
Death — Surrender of the " Tennessee " — The Navy at 
Charleston — Torpedoes and Submarines — Fall of Fort Fisher. 426 

CHAPTER XXV 

The Commerce Destroyers — The " Alabama " — Sinking the 
" Hatteras " — Battle with the " Kearsarge " — The " Shenan- 
doah " and Other Cruisers 440 

CHAPTER XXVI 

Close of the War — The Greatest of All Navies — Its Gradual 
Decadence — The War with Spain — How the Navy Was Re- 
established — The Destruction of the " Maine " — The Spanish 
Navy — Dewey at Manila 454 



CHAPTER XXVII 

)n the Atlantic Coast — Mobilizing the American Fleet — The 
Blockade of Cuba — The " Winslow " at Cardenas — Searching 
for Cervera — The Race of the " Oregon " — The " Merrimac " 
at Santiago — Spain's Fleet Destroyed and Spanish Power 
Ended 472 

CHAPTER XXVIII 

The End of the War — Its Fruit in Territory and New Problems 
— The International March on Pekin — The Battleship Fleet 
Goes Around the World — Target Practice at Magdalena Bay 
— The New United States Navy and Its Relative Rank — 
The End 504 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



United States SS. " Connecticut " Cover inlay 

Copyright, 1907, Enrique Muller 

Return of the Conquerors, September 29, 1899 • • Frontispiece 
Paul Jones the Pirate as Seen by England . . Facing page 12 

From a Prin4 of 1778 
The Action Between the " Bon Homme Richard " 

and the " Serapis," September 23, 1779 . . « " ^8 

First Recognition of the American Flag by a 

Foreign Government " " 62 

Heroism of Reuben James " " 98 

From a Print of the Time 
Burning of the Frigate " Philadelphia "... " " 104 

Commodore Stephen Decatur " " ii8 

The " Constitution " and the " Guerriere " . . " " 140 

From a Print of the Time 
Captain Isaac Hull « « j^ 

From a Contemporary Portrait 
The " United States " and " Macedonian " . . " " 158 

From a Print of the Time 

Commodore Perry « « j^,^ 

Perry's Victory — The Battle of Lake Erie, Sep- 
tember ID, 1813 « « jgQ 

Perry's Despatch to the Secretary of the Navy . " " 188 

Admiral David Porter i< « 232 

The " Constitution," " Levant," and " Cyane " . " " 270 . 
The Brig "Armstrong" Engaging the British 

Fleet " "280 

Typical Blockade Runner <• « ^96 

Landing Drill To-day <» « ^02 

Bombardment of Island No. 10 " " 344 . 

From a Print of the Time 
Iron versus Wood. Sinking of the "Cumberland" 

by the "Merrimac" « « ^60 

The "Monitor" and "Merrimac" .... «< " ^76 
From a Print of the Time 

Admiral Farragut « «< ^82 

Farragut's Fleet Engaging the Enemy Near New 

Orleans, April 26, 1862 « « ^90 



xii ILLUSTRATIONS 

A Modern Gun Crew Facing page 400 '' 

Farragut in Action ^ .' ^jg 

Battle of Mobile Bay " " 434 

Opening the Way to New Orleans .... " " ^4 
Engagement of the " Kearsarge " and " Alabama," 

June 19, 1864 " " 448 

End of the " Alabama " " "450 

" For a Frolic or a Fight " " " 456 

Type of Armored Cruiser « « ^^g 

The " North Dakota " at Full Speed ... « " 462 

The Newest Destroyer « « ^g^ 

The Daily Inspection " " ^53 

Shore Liberty at Buenos Ayres " " 470 

In the Turret " " 474 

In the Turret " " 4/6 

Bombardment of San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 13, 

1898 " " 480 

Admiral Sampson's Fleet off Puerto Rico, in 

Search of Cervera's Vessels, May i, 1898 . . « " 484 
Admiral Cervera's Fleet Approaching Santiago, 

May, 1898 ^" ]' 484 

The Naval Board of Strategy; 1898 .... " " 488 

Coaling— Jackies' Dirtiest Work " "492 

President Roosevelt and Admiral Evans ... « " 4^5 

The Fleet of Admiral Evans " " 498 

Battleship of To-day Before Launching ("The 

Utah") 1' .< ^°^ 

Admiral Evans' Flagship " " 506 

Jack Ashore in Japan Sio 

" Wisconsin " and " Kearsarge " at Malta . . " " ^14 

The New Fighting Masts " " 518 



THE STORY OF OUR NAVY FOR 
YOUNG AMERICANS 

CHAPTER I 

The Navy of Colonial Days — Discontent in the Colonies — ^The Evil 
of Impressment— Destruction of the "Gaspee"— John Manly, 
Father of the American Navy — The First Ship's Roster — The 
Many Flags. 

In this second decade of the Twentieth Century, when 
the navy of the United States Is conceded by all to 
be third among the floating fighting forces of the 
nations, and held by many to be second, the story of 
Its beginnings seems trivial and hardly worth the tell- 
ing or the reading. One Is apt to think that, In the 
face of the present-day voyage of sixteen steel-armored 
battleships around Cape Horn and the world, the simi- 
lar voyage of Commodore Porter in the frigate "Essex" 
In 1 8 12 is of slight Import. And when we have In 
mind Dewey destroying In one morning's battle all 
vestige of Spanish power in the Far East, and Schley 
and Sampson in a few hours ending Spain's rule in 
the West Indies — the very lands which she was first 
to discover, to develop, and to exploit — what was done 
In the earlier days of the navy may seem of little im- 
portance. 

But the armies of Washington were puny In com- 
parison even with those which the nation sent forth 
for the subjugation of the Philippines. Nevertheless, 
the " ragged continentals " builded a nation. Paul 
Jones was proud when he secured command of the 
" Bon Homme Richard," a ship mounting forty guns, 



2 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

which would have been put out of action by one shell 
from the secondary battery of any modern American 
warship. Yet with that one weak ship he changed 
the story of naval triumphs and won such fame that, 
after more than a century of oblivion, his body was 
saved from an obscure resting-place in Paris, brought 
to the United States in a war vessel, and rests in the 
monumental chapel at Annapolis as an inspiration to 
the lads there being educated for the glorious service 
of the nation afloat. So it may be asserted that even 
in the light of recent magnificent achievements of the 
navy, the story of its earliest days is not without im- 
portance — as it certainly is not without interest. 

In telling this story, some license must be allowed in 
the use of terms. There were sharp sea fights in the 
colonial days, and in the opening years of the Revolu- 
tion. But there was no navy in the true sense of the 
word until the Revolution was well advanced. 

Prior to that time there were ships commissioned 
by individual colonies, and privateers. Yet what they 
did on the ocean showed the naval spirit animating the 
American character — a spirit which, if it lagged be- 
tween 1815 and 1 86 1, and 1870 and 1890, seems now 
to have been effectively revived. 

Much of the discontent in the colonies, which led up 
to the Revolution, was bred of the aggressions of 
British men-of-war, and particularly of the practice of 
impressing American seamen. As early as 1764 the 
people of Newport seized a shore battery and fired upon 
a king's ship in the harbor, thus anticipating by twelve 
years the " embattled farmers " of Concord, who " fired 
the shot heard around the world." One incident is 
typical of many which led the seafaring folk of the 
colonies to be early in revolt. 

One breezy afternoon, a stanch brig, under full sail, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 3 

came up the bay, and entered the harbor of Newport. 
Her sides were weather-beaten, and her dingy sails 
and patched cordage showed that she had just com- 
pleted her long voyage. Her crew, a fine set of 
bronzed and hardy sailors, were gathered on her fore- 
castle, eagerly regarding the cluster of cottages that 
made up the little town of Newport. In those cottages 
were many loved ones, wives, mothers, and sweethearts, 
whom the brave fellows had not seen for long and 
weary months; for the brig was just returning from 
a voyage to the western coast of Africa. 

It is easy to imagine the feelings aroused by the 
arrival of a ship in port after a long voyage. From 
the outmost end of the longest wharf the relatives and 
friends of the sailors eagerly watch the approaching 
vessel, striving to find in her appearance some token 
of the safety of the loved ones on board. If a flag 
hangs at half-mast in the rigging, bitter is the suspense, 
and fearful the dread, of each anxious watcher, lest 
her husband or lover or son be the unfortunate one 
whose death is mourned. And on the deck of the 
ship the excitement is no less great. Even the hardened 
breast of the sailor swells with emotion when he first 
catches sight of his native town, after long months 
of absence. With eyes sharpened by constant search- 
ing for objects upon the broad bosom of the ocean, 
he scans the waiting crowd, striving to distinguish in 
the distance some well-beloved face. His spirits are 
light with the happy anticipation of a season in port 
with his loved ones, and he discharges his last duties 
before leaving the ship with a blithe heart. 

So it was with the crew of the home-coming brig. 
Right merrily they sung out their choruses as they 
pulled at the ropes, and brought the vessel to anchor. 
The rumble of the hawser through the hawse-holes was 
sweet music to their ears; and so intent were they upon 



4 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the crowd on the dock, that they did not notice two 
long-boats which had put off from the man-of-war, 
and were pulHng for the brig. The captain of the 
merchantman, however, noticed the approach of the 
boats, and wondered what it meant. " Those fellows 
think I've smuggled goods aboard," said he. " How- 
ever, they can spend their time searching if they want. 
I've nothing in the hold I'm afraid to have seen." 

The boats were soon alongside; and two or three 
officers, with a handful of jackies, clambered aboard 
the brig. 

" Muster your men aft, captain," said the leader, 
scorning any response to the captain's salutation. " The 
king has need of a few fine fellows for his service." 

" Surely, sir, you are not about to press any of 
these men," protested the captain. " They are just 
returning after a long voyage, and have not yet seen 
their families." 

"What's that to me, sir?" was the response. 
" Muster your crew without more words." 

Sullenly the men came aft, and ranged themselves 
in line before the boarding-officers. Each feared lest 
he might be one of those chosen to fill the ship's roll 
of the " Maidstone "; yet each cherished the hope that 
he might be spared to go ashore, and see the loved 
ones whose greeting he had so fondly anticipated. 

The boarding-officers looked the crew over, and, after 
consulting together, gruffly ordered the men to go below, 
and pack up their traps. 

" Surely you don't propose to take my entire crew? " 
said the captain of the brig in wondering indig- 
nation. 

" I know my business, sir," was the gruff reply, " and 
I do not propose to suffer any more interference." 

The crew of the brig soon came on deck, carrying 
their bags of clothes, and were ordered into the man- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 5 

o'-war's boats, which speedily conveyed them to their 
floating prison. Their fond visions of home had been 
rudely dispelled. They were now enrolled in His Ma- 
jesty's service, and subject to the will of a blue-coated 
tyrant. This was all their welcome home. 

Newport and the maritime colonies of New England 
sent thousands of sailors into the war with Great 
Britain, and dispatched scores of privateers. It was 
exactly such outrages as the foregoing that made these 
people spring to arms. Long before the academic 
question of '' taxation without representation " turned 
Boston harbor into a teapot the people along Narragan- 
sett Bay were fighting for their personal rights on 
water and on land. The affair of the " Gaspee " is 
the most typical in this conflict, though not the first. 
The " Gaspee " was an armed vessel stationed In Nar- 
ragansett Bay to enforce the revenue. She was com- 
manded by Lieutenant Dudingston of the British navy, 
and carried eight guns. By pursuing the usual tactics 
of the British officers stationed on the American coast, 
Dudingston had made himself hated; and his vessel 
was marked for destruction. 

The propitious time arrived one bright June morning 
In the year 1772, when the " Gaspee " gave chase to a 
Newport packet which was scudding for Providence, 
under the command of Captain Thomas LIndsey. The 
armed vessel was a clean-cut little craft, and, carrying 
no heavier load than a few light guns of the calibre 
then in vogue, could overhaul with ease almost any 
merchantman on the coast. So on this eventful day 
she was rapidly overhauling the chase, when, by a 
blunder of the pilot, she was run hard and fast upon 
a spit of sand running out from Namqult Point, and 
thus saw her projected prize sail away in triumph. 

But the escape of her prize was not the greatest 
disaster that was to befall the " Gaspee " that day. 



6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Lindsey, finding himself safe from the clutches of the 
enemy, continued his course to Providence, and on arriv- 
ing at that city reported the condition of the " Gaspee " 
to a prominent citizen, vi^ho straightway determined 
to organize an expedition for the destruction of the 
pest of marine traffic. He therefore gave orders to 
a trusty ship-master to collect eight of the largest long- 
boats in the harbor, and, having muffled their oars 
and rowlocks, placed them at Fenner's Wharf, near a 
noted tavern. 

That night, soon after sunset, as the tradesmen were 
shutting up their shops, and the laboring men were 
standing on the streets talking after their day's work, 
a man passed down the middle of each street, beating 
a drum, and crying aloud: 

" The schooner ' Gaspee ' is ashore on Namquit 
Point. Who will help destroy her?" 

All who expressed a desire to join in the enterprise 
were directed to repair to the Sabin House; and thither, 
later in the evening, flocked many of the townspeople, 
carrying guns, powder-flasks, and bullet-pouches. With- 
in the house all was life and bustle. The great hall 
was crowded with determined men, discussing the plan 
of attack. Guns stood in every corner, while down 
in the kitchen half a dozen men stood about a glow- 
ing fire busily casting bullets. At last, all being pre- 
pared, the party crossed the street to the dock, and 
embarked, — a veteran sea-captain taking the tiller of 
each boat. 

On the way down the harbor the boats stopped, 
and took aboard a number of paving-stones and stout 
clubs, as weapons for those who had no muskets. After 
this stoppage the boats continued on their way, until, 
when within sixty yards of the *' Gaspee," the long- 
drawn hail, "Who comes there?" rang out over the 
water. No answer was made, and the lookout quickly 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 7 

repeated his hail. Captain Whipple, one of the leaders 
of the attack, then responded, — 

" I want to come on board." 

Dudingston, who was below at the time, rushed on 
deck, exclaiming, " Stand off. You can't come aboard." 

As Dudingston stood at the side of the " Gaspee " 
warning off the assailants, he presented a good mark; 
and Joseph Bucklin, who pulled an oar in the leading 
boat, turned to a comrade and said, " Ephe, lend me 
your gun, and I can kill that fellow." The gun was 
accordingly handed him, and he fired. Dudingston 
fell to the deck. Just as the shot was fired, the leader 
of the assailants cried out : 

" I am sheriff of the county of Kent. I am come 
for the commander of this vessel; and have him I will, 
dead or alive. Men, spring to your oars." 

In an instant the boats were under the lee of the 
schooner, and the attacking party was clambering over 
the side. The first man to attempt to board seized a 
rope, and was clambering up, when one of the British 
cut the rope, and let him fall into the water. He 
quickly recovered himself, and was soon on deck, where 
he found his comrades driving the crew of the " Gas- 
pee " below, and meeting with but little resistance. 

A surgeon who was with the party of Americans led 
the boarders below, and began the task of tying the 
hands of the captured crew with strong tarred cord. 
While thus engaged, he was called on deck. 

"What is wanted, Mr. Brown?" asked he, calling 
the name of the person inquiring for him. 

" Don't call names, but go immediately into the 
cabin," was the response. " There is one wounded, 
and will bleed to death." 

The surgeon went into the captain's cabin, and there 
found Dudingston, severely wounded, and bleeding 
freely. Seeing no cloth suitable for bandages, the 



8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

surgeon opened his vest, and began to tear his own 
shirt into strips to bind up the wound. With the 
tenderest care the hurt of the injured officer was at- 
tended to; and he was gently lowered into a boat, and 
rowed up the river to Providence. 

The Americans remained in possession of the cap- 
tured schooner, and quickly began the work of demoli- 
tion. In the captain's cabin were a number of bottles 
of liquor, and for these the men made a rush; but 
the American surgeon dashed the bottles to pieces with 
the heels of his heavy boots, so that no scenes of drunk- 
enness were enacted. After breaking up the furniture 
and trappings of the craft, her people were bundled 
over the side into the boats of their captors, and the 
torch was set to the schooner. The boats lay off a 
little distance until 'the roaring flames satisfied them 
that the " Gaspee " would never again annoy American 
merchantmen. As the schooner's shotted guns went 
off one after the other, the Americans turned their 
boats' prows homeward, and soon dispersed quietly to 
their homes. 

After the battle of Lexington attacks upon British 
armed vessels were numerous all along the coast from 
Maine to the Carolinas. The coastwise waters saw 
some hard fighting, but it was not naval, except in the 
sense that it was done afloat and mainly by seafaring 
men. But it was in the latter part of 1775 that the 
first suggestion of a true navy was made by General 
Washington. On his own responsibility he sent out 
two armed schooners to capture the enemy's ships and 
secure provisions and munitions of war. They had 
some success, but when in October of the same year 
Congress commissioned several small vessels the Amer- 
ican navy had its true beginning. 

The first vessel thus commissioned was the " Lee," 
a small but swift brig, commanded by John Manly, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 9 

who really deserves the title of the " Father of the 
American Navy." The work of Manly and of the 
small vessels of which the " Lee " was a type en- 
couraged Congress to proceed with the organization 
of a true navy, and by 1776 the building of thirteen 
war vessels, carrying from twenty-four to thirty-two 
guns each, had been authorized. But as some naval 
force was obviously necessary during the construction 
of this fleet, five old vessels were procured, and the 
new navy was organized with the following roster of 
officers : 

EsEK Hopkins Commander-in-chief 

Dudley Saltonstall Captain of the "Alfred" 

Abraham Whipple .... Captain of the " Columbus " 
Nicholas Biddle . . . Captain of the " Andrea Doria " 
John B. Hopkins Captain of the " Cabot " 

A long list of lieutenants was also provided, among 
whom stands out boldly the name of John Paul Jones. 
John Manly, whose dashing work in the schooner 
" Lee " we have already noticed, was left in command 
of his little craft until the thirty-two-gun ship " Han- 
cock " was completed, when he was put in command of 
her. 

Under flags of various designs — the rattlesnake with 
the motto, " Don't Tread on Me "; the flag of each 
colony; the flag first hoisted by Paul Jones, showing 
a pine tree on a white ground, with " Liberty Tree " 
and "Appeal to God" displayed; these and other 
American vessels entered upon a naval war with the 
nation which even then was the greatest of all sea 
powers. 



CHAPTER II 

Paul Jones, the First Great American Seafighter, but to the British 
a Pirate— In Command of the "Ranger" — His Invasion of 
England. 

With the crowning importance of the later days of 
the American navy it is possible to pass over hastily 
its earlier achievements — the triumphs of Ezekiel Hop- 
kins, Captain Mugford, Captain Wickes, and a host 
of lesser seafighters of the Colonial navy must be set 
aside for the more careful description of the naval 
cruises and actions which had a direct bearing on the 
fate of the infant nation. That American privateers 
harried the seas, driving British cruisers to port, had 
its influence, of course, on the issue of the conflict. But 
for the important naval operations we must turn to 
the names of John Paul Jones, Nicholas Biddle, and 
Isaac Barry. 

John Paul Jones was a Scotchman, born in July, 
1747. By inheritance his name was John Paul, and 
it was not until 1773 when residing in North Carolina 
that he added the surname of Jones. Almost from 
his earliest days a seaman, he was in turn an apprentice, 
mate of a slaver, commander of merchantmen, until, 
winning his way upward by sheer pertinacity, he be- 
came the foremost figure in the naval annals of the 
American Revolution. His earlier services in this 
struggle were as a privateersman, or in command of 
small commissioned vessels. But even thus handi- 
capped by lacking power to meet and give successful 
conflict to any armed British vessel, he preyed upon 
British commerce in a way that struck terror to ship- 
owners and to shippers, and brought into the United 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS ii 

Colonies supplies of uncounted value to Washington's 
half-clad and starving army. It was this period of 
Jones' activity that led the British to dub him " Paul 
Jones, the pirate," and to publish broadsides ranking 
him with Tench, Blackbeard, and Captain Kidd. In 
one brief cruise he captured sixteen vessels; in another 
he landed on the British territory of Nova Scotia, 
burned a great transport and a warehouse full of sup- 
plies, and returned to port with live prizes. Exploits 
like this caused Congress to call upon him for advice 
as to the increase and organization of the navy, and 
on this task he spent six months ashore. 

It was not until June 14, 1777, that a command 
was found for him. This was the eighteen-gun ship 
" Ranger," built to carry a frigate's battery of twenty- 
six guns. She had been built for the revolutionary 
government, at Portsmouth, and was a stanch-built, 
solid craft, though miserably slow and somewhat crank. 
Jones, though disappointed with the sailing qualities of 
the ship, was nevertheless vastly delighted to be again 
in command of a man-of-war, and wasted no time in 
getting her ready for sea. 

It so happened that, on the very day Paul Jones 
received his commission as commander of the " Ran- 
ger," the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and 
Stripes for the national flag. Jones, anticipating this 
action, had prepared a flag in accordance with the 
proposed designs, and, upon hearing of the action of 
Congress, had it run to the masthead, while the cannon 
of the " Ranger " thundered out their deep-mouthed 
greetings to the starry banner destined to wave over 
the most glorious nation of the earth. Thus it hap- 
pened that the same hand that had given the pine-tree 
banner to the winds was the first to fling out to the 
breezes the bright folds of the Stars and Stripes. 

Early in October the " Ranger " left Portsmouth, 



12 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

and made for the coast of France. Astute agents of 
the Americans in that country were having a fleet, pow- 
erful frigate built there for Jones, which he was to 
take, leaving the sluggish " Ranger " to be sold. But, 
on his arrival at Nantes, Jones was grievously dis- 
appointed to learn that the British Government had so 
vigorously protested against the building of a vessel- 
of-war in France for the Americans, that the French 
Government had been obliged to notify the American 
agents that their plan must be abandoned. France 
was at this time at peace with Great Britain, and, 
though inclined to be friendly with the rebellious col- 
onies, was not ready to entirely abandon her position 
as a neutral power. Later, when she took up arms 
against England, she gave the Americans every right 
in her ports they could desire. 

Jones thus found himself in European waters with 
a vessel too weak to stand against the frigates England 
could send to take her, and too slow to elude them. 
But he determined to strike some effective blows for 
the cause of liberty. Accordingly he planned an enter- 
prise, which, for audacity of conception and dash in 
execution, has never been equalled by any naval expedi- 
tion since. 

This was nothing less than a virtual invasion of Eng- 
land. The " Ranger " lay at Brest. Jones planned 
to dash across the English Channel, and cruise along 
the coast of England, burning shipping and towns, as 
a piece of retaliation upon the British for their wanton 
outrages along the American coast. It was a bold 
plan. The channel was thronged with the heavy frig- 
ates of Great Britain, any one of which could have 
annihilated the audacious Yankee cruiser. Neverthe- 
less, Jones determined to brave the danger. 

At the outset, it seemed as though his purpose was 
to be balked by heavy weather. For days after the 




AS SEEN BY ENGLAND 
(From a print of 1778) 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 13 

*' Ranger " left Brest, she battled against the chop- 
seas of the English Channel. The sky was dark, and 
the light of the sun obscured by gray clouds. The 
wind whistled through the rigging, and tore at the 
tightly furled sails. Great green walls of water, capped 
with snowy foam, beat thunderously against the sides 
of the " Ranger." Now and then a port would be 
driven in, and the men between decks drenched by the 
incoming deluge. The " Ranger " had encountered an 
equinoctial gale in its worst form. 

When the gale died away, Jones found himself off 
the Scilly Islands, in full view of the coast of England. 
Here he encountered a merchantman, which he took 
and scuttled, sending the crew ashore to spread the 
news that an American man-of-war was ravaging the 
channel. Having alarmed all England, he changed 
his hunting-ground to St. George's Channel and the 
Irish Sea, where he captured several ships; sending one, 
a prize, back to Brest. He was in waters with which 
he had been familiar from his youth, and he made good 
use of his knowledge; dashing here and there, lying 
in wait in the highway of commerce, and then secreting 
himself in some sequestered cove. All England was 
aroused by the exploits of the Yankee cruiser. Never 
since the days of the Invincible Armada had war been 
so brought home to the people of the tight little island. 

But Paul Jones showed Great Britain that her 
boasted power was a bubble. He ravaged the seas 
within cannon-shot of English headlands. He cap- 
tured and burned merchantmen, drove the rates of in- 
surance up to panic prices, paralyzed British shipping- 
trade, and even made small incursions into British ter- 
ritory. 

The reports that reached Jones of British barbarity 
along the American coast, of the burning of Falmouth, 
of tribute levied on innumerable seaport towns, — all 



14 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

aroused in him a determination to strike a retaliatory 
blow. Soon after, he entered the bay of Carrickfergus, 
on which is situated the Irish commercial city of Bel- 
fast. The bay was constantly filled with merchant- 
men; and the " Ranger," with her ports closed, and 
her warlike character carefully disguised, excited no 
suspicion aboard a trim, heavy-built craft that lay at 
anchor a little farther up the bay. This craft was the 
British man-of-war " Drake," mounting twenty guns. 
Soon after his arrival in the bay, Jones learned the 
character of the " Drake," and determined to attempt 
her capture during the night. Accordingly he dropped 
anchor near by, and, while carefully concealing the 
character of his craft, made every preparation for a 
midnight fight. 

At ten o'clock, the tramp of men about the capstan 
gave notice that the anchor was being brought to the 
catheads. Soon the creaking of cordage, and the snap- 
ping of the sails, told that the fresh breeze was being 
caught by the spreading sails. Then the waves rippled 
about the bow of the ship, and the " Ranger " was 
fairly under way. 

It was a pitch-dark night, but the lights on board the 
" Drake " showed where she was lying. On the 
" Ranger " all lights were extinguished, and no noise 
told of her progress towards her enemy. It was the 
captain's plan to run his vessel across the " Drake's " 
cable, drop his own anchor, let the *' Ranger " swing 
alongside the Englishman, and then fight it out at close 
quarters. But this plan, though well laid, failed of 
execution. The anchor was not let fall in season; and 
the " Ranger," instead of bringing up alongside her 
enemy, came to anchor half a cable-length astern. The 
swift-flowing tide and the fresh breeze made it im- 
possible to warp the ship alongside: so Jones ordered 
the cable cut, and the " Ranger " scudded down the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 15 

bay before the ever-freshening gale. It does not ap- 
pear that the people on the " Drake " were aware of 
the danger they so narrowly escaped. 

The wind that had aided the tide in defeating Jones's 
enterprise blew stronger and stronger, and before morn- 
ing the sea was tossing before a regular northeast gale. 
Against it the "Ranger" could make no headway: 
so Jones gave his ship her head, and scudded before 
the wind until within the vicinity of Whitehaven, when 
he determined to again attempt to destroy the shipping 
in that port. This time he was successful. Bringing 
the " Ranger " to anchor near the bar, Captain Jones 
called for volunteers to accompany him on the expedi- 
tion. He himself was to be their leader; for as a boy 
he had often sailed in and out of the little harbor, 
knew where the forts stood, and where the colliers an- 
chored most thickly. The landing party was divided 
into two boat-loads; Jones taking command of one, 
while Lieutenant Wallingford held the tiller of the 
other boat. With muffled oars the Americans made 
for the shore, the boats' keels grated upon the pebbly 
beach, and an instant later the adventurers had scaled 
the ramparts of the forts, and had made themselves 
masters of the garrisons. All was done quietly. The 
guns in the fortifications were spiked; and, leaving the 
few soldiers on guard gagged and bound, Jones and 
his followers hastened down to the wharves to set fire 
to the shipping. 

In the harbor were not less than two hundred and 
twenty vessels, large and small. On the north side 
of the harbor, near the forts, were about one hundred 
and fifty vessels. These Jones undertook to destroy. 
The others were left to Lieutenant Wallingford, with 
his boat's crew of fifteen picked men. 

When Jones and his followers reached the cluster 
of merchantmen, they found their torches so far burned 



i6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

out as to be useless. Failure stared them in the face 
then, when success was almost within their grasp. 
Jones, however, was not to be balked of his prey. 
Running his boat ashore, he hastened to a neighboring 
house, where he demanded candles. With these he 
returned, led his men aboard a large ship from which 
the crew fled, and deliberately built a fire in her hold. 
Lest the fire should go out, he found a barrel of tar, 
and threw it upon the flames. Then with the great 
ship roaring and crackling, and surrounded by scores 
of other vessels in danger from the flames, Jones with- 
drew, thinking his work complete. 

Many writers have criticised Paul Jones for not hav- 
ing stayed longer to complete the destruction of the 
vessels in the harbor. But, with the gradually bright- 
ening day, his position, which was at the best very 
dangerous, was becoming desperate. There were one 
hundred and fifty vessels in that part of the harbor; 
the crews averaged ten men to a vessel: so that nearly 
fifteen hundred men were opposed to the plucky little 
band of Americans. The roar of the fire aroused the 
people of the town, and they rushed in crowds to the 
wharf. In describing the affair Jones writes, " The 
inhabitants began to appear in thousands, and indi- 
viduals ran hastily toward us. I stood between them 
and the ship on fire, with my pistol in my hand, and 
ordered them to stand, which they did with some pre- 
cipitation. The sun was a full hour's march above 
the horizon; and, as sleep no longer ruled the world, 
it was time to retire. We re-embarked without op- 
position, having released a number of prisoners, as our 
boats could not carry them. After all my people had 
embarked, I stood upon the pier for a considerable 
space, yet no person advanced. I saw all the eminences 
round the town covered with the amazed inhabitants." 

As his boat drew away from the blazing shipping, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 17 

Jones looked anxiously across the harbor to the spot 
to which Lieutenant Wallingford had been dispatched. 
But no flames were seen in that quarter; for, WalHng- 
ford's torches having gone out, he had abandoned the 
enterprise. And so the Americans, having regained 
their ship, took their departure, leaving only one of 
the enemy's vessels burning. A most lame and impotent 
conclusion it was indeed; but, as Jones said, "What 
was done is sufficient to show that not all the boasted 
British navy is sufficient to protect their own coasts, 
and that the scenes of distress which they have occa- 
sioned in America may soon be brought home to their 
own doors." 



CHAPTER III 

Career of Paul Jones Continued — His Descent upon the Castle of 
Lord Selkirk — The Affair of the Plate — The Descent upon 
Whitehaven — The Battle with the " Drake." 

We now come to the glorious part of the career of 
Paul Jones upon the ocean. Heretofore he has been 
chiefly occupied in the capture of defenceless merchant- 
men. His work has been that of the privateer, even 
if not of the pirate that the British have always claimed 
he was. But the time came when Jones proved that he 
was ready to fight an adversary of his mettle; was 
willing to take heavy blows, and deal stunning ones 
in return. His daring was not confined to dashing 
expeditions in which the danger was chiefly overcome 
by spirit and rapid movements. While this class of 
operations was ever a favorite with the doughty sea- 
man, he was not at all averse to the deadly naval duel. 

We shall for a time abandon our account of the 
general naval incidents of the Revolution, to follow 
the career of Paul Jones to the end of the war. His 
career is not only the most interesting, but the most 
important, feature of the naval operations of that war. 
He stands out alone, a grand figure in naval history, 
as does Decatur In the wars with the Barbary pirates, 
or Farragut in the war for the Union. The war of 
1812 affords no such example of single greatness In 
the navy. There we find Perry, McDonough, and 
Porter, all equally great. But In '76 there was no one 
to stand beside Paul Jones. 

When the " Ranger " left the harbor of Whitehaven, 
her captain was heavy-hearted. He felt that he had 
had the opportunity to strike a heavy blow at the British 

18 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 19 

shipping, but had nevertheless inflicted only a trifling 
hurt. Angry with himself for not having better 
planned the adventure, and discontented with his lieu- 
tenant for not having by presence of mind prevented 
the fiasco, he felt that peace of mind could only be 
obtained by some deed of successful daring. 

He was cruising in seas familiar to him as a sailor. 
Along the Scottish shores his boyhood hours had been 
spent. This knowledge he sought to turn to account. 
From the deck of his ship, he could see the wooded 
shores of St. Mary's Island, on which were the landed 
estates of Lord Selkirk, a British noble of ancient 
lineage and political prominence. On the estate of this 
nobleman Paul Jones was born, and there he passed 
the few years of his life that elapsed before he forsook 
the land for his favorite element. 

Leaning against the rail on the quarter-deck of the 
" Ranger," Jones could see through his spy-glass the 
turrets and spires of Lord Selkirk's castle. As he 
gazed, there occurred to him the idea, that if he could 
send a landing party ashore, seize the castle, capture 
the peer, and bear him off into captivity, he would not 
only strike terror into the hearts of the British, but 
would give the Americans a prisoner who would serve 
as a hostage to secure good treatment for the hapless 
Americans who had fallen into the hands of the 
enemy. 

With Jones, the conception of a plan was followed 
by its swift execution. Disdaining to wait for night- 
fall, he chose two boats' crews of tried and trusty men, 
and landed. The party started up the broad and open 
highway leading to the castle. They had gone but 
a few rods, however, when they encountered two coun- 
trymen, who stared a moment at the force of armed 
men, and then turned in fear to escape. 

" Halt! " rang out the clear voice of the leader of 



20 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the blue-jackets; and the peasants fell upon their faces 
in abject terror. Jones directed that they be brought 
to him; and he questioned them kindly, setting their 
minds at rest, and learning from them much of the 
castle and its inmates. Lord Selkirk was away from 
home. This to Jones was bitter news. It seemed 
as though some evil genius was dogging his footsteps, 
bringing failure upon his most carefully planned enter- 
prises. But he was not a man to repine over the in- 
evitable, and he promptly ordered his men to the right 
about, and made for the landing-place again. 

But the sailors were not so unselfish in their motives 
as their captain. They had come ashore expecting 
to plunder the castle of the earl, and they now mur- 
mured loudly over the abandonment of the adventure. 
They saw the way clear before them. No guards pro- 
tected the house. The massive ancestral plate, with 
which all English landed families are well provided, 
was unprotected by bolts or bars. They felt that, 
in retreating, they were throwing away a chance to 
despoil their enemy, and enrich themselves. 

Jones felt the justice of the complaint of the sailors; 
but only after a fierce struggle with his personal scruples 
could he yield the point. The grounds of the Earl 
of Selkirk had been his early playground. A lodge 
on the vast estate had been his childhood's home. Lady 
Selkirk had shown his family many kindnesses. To 
now come to her house as a robber and pillager, seemed 
the blackest ingratitude; but, on the other hand, he 
had no right to permit his personal feelings to interfere 
with his duty to the crew. The sailors had followed 
him into danger many a time, and this was their first 
opportunity for financial reward. With a sigh Jones 
abandoned his intention of protecting the property of 
Lady Selkirk, and ordered his lieutenant to proceed to 
the castle, and capture the family plate. Jones him- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 21 

self returned to the ship, resolved to purchase the spoils 
at open sale, and return them to their former owner. 

The blue-jackets continued their way up the high- 
way, and, turning aside where a heavy gate opened 
Into a stately grove, demanded of an old man who 
came, wondering, out of the lodge, that he give them 
Instant admittance. Then, swinging into a trot, they 
ran along the winding carriage-drive until they came 
out on the broad lawn that extended in front of the 
castle. Here for the first time they were seen by the 
Inmates of the castle; and faint screams of fear, and 
shouts of astonishment, came from the open windows 
of the stately pile. The men-servants came rushing 
out to discover who the lawless crowd that so violated 
the sanctity of an English earl's private park could be; 
but their curiosity soon abated when a few stout blue- 
jackets, cutlass and pistol in hand, surrounded them, 
and bade them keep quiet. The lieutenant, with two 
stout seamen at his back, ..then entered the castle, and 
sought out the mistress, who received him with calm 
courtesy, with a trace of scorn, but with no sign of fear. 

Briefly the lieutenant told his errand. The countess 
gave an order to a butler, and soon a line of stout 
footmen entered, bearing the plate. Heavy salvers en- 
graved with the family arms of Lord Selkirk, quaint 
drinking-cups and flagons curiously carved, ewers, gob- 
lets, platters, covers, dishes, teapots, and all kinds of 
table utensils were there, all of exquisitely artistic work- 
manship, and bearing the stamp of antiquity. When 
all was ready, the lieutenant called in two of the sailors 
from the lawn; and soon the whole party, bearing the 
captured treasure, disappeared in the curves of the road. 

A few weeks later, the captured plate was put up 
for sale by the prize agents. Captain Jones, though 
not a rich man, bought it, and returned It to the count- 
ess. Lord Selkirk, in acknowledging its receipt, wrote : 



22 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

" And on all occasions, both noiv and formerly, I 
have done you the justice to tell that you made an 
offer of returning the plate very soon after your .return 
to Brest; and although you yourself were not at my 
house, hut remained at the shore with your boat, that 
you had your officers and men in such extraordinary 
good discipline, that your having given them the strict- 
est orders to behave well, — to do no injury of any 
kind, to make no search, but only to bring off what 
plate was given them, — that in reality they did exactly 
as was ordered; and that not one man offered to stir 
from his post on. the outside of the house, nor entered 
the doors, nor said an uncivil word; that the two offi- 
cers stayed not one-quarter of an hour in the parlor 
and in the butler* s pantry wJiile the butler got the plate 
together, behaved politely, and asked for nothing but 
the plate, and instantly marched their men off in regular 
order; and that both officers and men behaved in all 
respects so well, that it would have done credit to the 
best-disciplined troops whatever." 

But the British took little notice of the generous 
reparation made by Captain Jones, and continued to 
describe him as pirate, ruffian, and murderer. 

Some weeks before, Jones had tried to destroy the 
British man-of-war " Drake " in the harbor of Carrick- 
fergus, but was defeated by an unlucky combination 
of unfavorable tide and wind. Yet he was determined 
not to leave those waters without some greater achieve- 
ment than shore raids and the destruction of merchant- 
men. So he set forth to find the " Drake," and by 
a happy coincidence the " Drake " put forth to find 
him. They met at the mouth of Carrickfergus harbor. 

The " Drake " promptly sent out a boat to examine 
the strange craft, and report upon her character. Jones 
saw her coming, and resolved to throw her off the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 23 

scent. Accordingly, by skilful seamanship, he kept 
the stern of the " Ranger " continually presented to 
the prying eyes in the British boat. Turn which way 
they might, be as swift their manoeuvres as they 
might, the British scouts could see nothing of the 
" Ranger " but her stern, pierced with two cabin win- 
dows, as might be the stern of any merchantman. Her 
sides, dotted with frowning ports, were kept securely 
hidden from their eyes. 

Though provided with spy-glasses, the people in the 
boat were totally deceived. Unsuspectingly they came 
up under the stern of the " Ranger," and demanded 
to come on board. As the officer in command clam- 
bered up a rope, and vaulted the taffrail to the quarter- 
deck, he saw Paul Jones and his lieutenants, in full 
uniform, standing before him. 

"Why, — why, what ship's this?" stammered the 
astonished officer. 

" This is the American Continental ship ' Ranger,' 
and you are my prisoner," responded Jones; and at 
the words a few sailors, with cutlasses and pistols, 
called to the men in the boat alongside, to come aboard 
and give themselves up. 

From his captives Jones learned that the news of 
the Whitehaven raid had reached the " Drake " only 
the night before; and that she had been re-enforcing 
her crew with volunteers, preparatory to going out 
in search of the " Ranger." As he stood talking to 
the captured British naval officer, Jones noticed slender 
columns of smoke rising from the woods on neighbor- 
ing highlands, where he knew there were no houses. 

" What does that mean? " he asked. 

" Alarm fires, sir," answered the captive; " the news 
of your descent upon Whitehaven is terrifying the whole 
country." 

Soon, however, the attention of the Americans was 



24 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

diverted from the signal-fires to the " Drake." An 
appearance of life and bustle was observable about the 
boat. The shrill notes of the boatswain's whistle, and 
the tramp of men about the capstan, came faintly over 
the waters. The rigging was full of sailors, and the 
sails were being quickly spread to catch the fresh 
breeze. Soon the ship began to move slowly from 
her anchorage; she heeled a little to one side, and, 
responsive to her helm, turned down the bay. She 
was coming out to look after her lost boat. 

Jones determined to hold his ground, and give battle 
to the Englishman. 

At length the " Drake " emerged from the narrow 
channel of the harbor, and coming within hailing dis- 
tance of the " Ranger," ran up the flag of England, 
and hailed: 

"What ship is that?" 

Paul Jones, himself standing on the taffrail, made 
answer: 

" This is the American Continental ship ' Ranger.' 
We are waiting for you. The sun is but little more 
than an hour from setting. It is therefore time to 
begin." 

The " Drake " lay with her bow towards the " Ran- 
ger," and a little astern. As Jones finished speaking, 
he turned to the man at the wheel, and said, " Put 
your helm up. Up, I say! " 

Quickly responsive to her helm, the vessel swung 
round; and, as her broadside came to bear, she let fly 
a full broadside of solid shot into the crowded decks 
and hull of the " Drake." Through timbers and 
planks, flesh and bone, the iron hail rushed, leaving 
death, wounds, and destruction in its path. The volun- 
teers that the " Drake " had added to her crew so 
crowded the decks, that the execution was fearful. It 
seemed as though every shot found a human mark. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 25 

But the British were not slow to return the fire, and 
the roar of their broadside was heard before the thunder 
of the American fire had ceased to reverberate among 
the hills along the shore. 

Then followed a desperate naval duel. The tide 
of victory flowed now this way, and now that. Jones 
kept his ship at close quarters with the enemy, and 
stood on the quarter-deck urging on his gunners, now 
pointing out some vulnerable spot, now applauding a 
good shot, at one time cheering, and at another swear- 
ing, watching every movement of his foe, and giving 
quick but wise orders to his helmsman, his whole mind 
concentrated upon the course of battle, and with never 
a thought for his own safety. 

For more than an hour the battle raged, but the 
superior gunnery of the Americans soon began to tell. 
The " Drake " fought under no colors, her ensign hav- 
ing been shot away early in the action. But the spirited 
manner in which her guns were worked gave assurance 
that she had not struck. The American fire had 
wrought great execution on the deck of the English- 
man. Her captain was desperately wounded early in 
the fight; and the first lieutenant, who took his place, 
was struck down by a musket-ball from the " Ranger's " 
tops. The cock-pit of the " Drake " was like a 
butcher's shambles, so bespattered was it with blood. 
But on the " Ranger " there was little execution. The 
brave Wallingford, Jones's first lieutenant and right- 
hand man, was killed early in the action, and one poor 
fellow accompanied him to his long account; but be- 
yond this there were no deaths. Six men only were 
wounded. 

The sun was just dipping the lower edge of Its great 
red circle beneath the watery horizon, when the 
" Drake " began to show signs of failing. First her 
fire slackened. A few guns would go off at a time, 



26 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

followed by a long silence. That portion of her masts 
which was visible above the clouds of gunpowder-smoke 
showed plainly the results of American gunnery. The 
sails were shot to ribbons. The cordage cut by the 
flying shot hung loosely down, or was blown out by the 
breeze. The spars were shattered, and hung out of 
place. The mainmast canted to leeward, and was in 
imminent danger of falling. The jib had been shot 
away entirely, and was trailing In the water alongside 
the ship. 

Gradually the fire of the " Drake " slackened, until 
at last It had ceased altogether. Noticing this, Cap- 
tain Jones gave orders to cease firing; and soon silence 
reigned over the bay that had for an hour resounded 
with the thunder of cannon. As the smoke that en- 
veloped the two ships cleared away, the people on the 
" Ranger " could see an ofl'icer standing on the rail 
of the " Drake " waving a white flag. At the sight 
a mighty huzza went up from the gallant lads on the 
Yankee ship, which was, however, quickly checked by 
Jones. 

" Have you struck your flag? " he shouted through 
a speaking-trumpet. 

" We have, sir," was the response. 

*' Then lay by until I send a boat aboard," directed 
Captain Jones; and soon after a cutter put off from 
the side of the " Ranger," and made for the captured 
ship. 

The boardIng-ofl5cer clambered over the bulwarks of 
the " Drake," and, veteran naval officer as he was, 
started In amazement at the scene of bloodshed before 
him. He had left a ship on which were two dead 
and six wounded men. He had come to a ship on 
which were forty men either dead or seriously wounded. 
Two dismounted cannon lay across the deck, one resting 
on the shattered and bleeding fragments of a man torn 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 27 

to pieces by a heavy shot. The deck was slippery 
with blood. The cock-pit was not large enough to 
hold all the wounded; and many sufferers lay on the 
deck crying piteously for aid, and surrounded by the 
mangled bodies of their dead comrades. The body 
of the captain, who had died of his wound, lay on 
the deserted quarter-deck. 

Hastily the American officer noted the condition of 
the prize, and returned to his own ship for aid. All 
the boats of the " Ranger " were then lowered, and 
in the growing darkness the work of taking possession 
of the prize began. Most of the prisoners were trans- 
ferred to the " Ranger." The dead were thrown over- 
board without burial service or ceremony of any kind, 
such is the grim earnestness of war. Such of the 
wounded as could not be taken care of in the sick- 
bay of the " Drake " were transferred to the " Ran- 
ger." The decks were scrubbed, holystoned, and 
sprinkled with hot vinegar to take away the smell of 
the blood-soaked planks. Cordage was spliced, sails 
mended, shot-holes plugged up; and, by the time morn- 
ing came, the two ships were sufficiently repaired to 
be ready to leave the bay. 

But, before leaving, Captain Jones set at liberty two 
fishermen, whom he had captured several days before, 
and held prisoners lest they should spread the news 
of his presence in those parts. While the fishermen 
had been taken on board the " Ranger," and treated 
with the utmost kindness, their boat had been made 
fast alongside. Unluckily, however, the stormy 
weather had torn the boat from its fastenings; and it 
foundered before the eyes of its luckless owners, who 
bitterly bewailed their hard fate as they saw their craft 
disappear. But, when they came to leave the " Ran- 
ger," their sorrow was turned to joy; for Jones gave 
them money enough to buy for them a new boat and 



28 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

outfit, — a bit of liberality very characteristic of the 
man. 

All Europe now rang with the praises of Paul Jones. 
Looked at in the calm light of history, his achievements 
do not appear so very remarkable. But it is none the 
less true that they have never been paralleled. Before 
the day of Paul Jones, no hostile vessel had ever swept 
the English Channel and Irish Sea clear of British 
merchantmen. And since the day of Paul Jones the 
exploit has never been repeated, save by the little Amer- 
ican brig "Argus " in the War of 1812. But neither 
before nor since the day of Paul Jones has the spectacle 
of a British ship in an English port, blazing with fire 
applied by the torches of an enemy, been seen. And 
no other man than Paul Jones has, for several cen- 
turies, led an invading force down the level highways, 
and across the green fields, of England. 



CHAPTER IV 

The Career of Paul Jones Continued — His Search for a Ship — 
Given Command of the " Bon Homme Richard " — Landais and 
His Character — The Frustrated Mutiny — Landais Quarrels with 
Jones — Edinburgh and Leith Threatened — The Dominie's 
Prayer— The Battle with the "Serapis." 

When Paul Jones arrived at Brest, bringing the cap- 
tured " Drake," he found the situation of affairs materi- 
ally altered. France had acknowledged the independence 
of the American Colonies, and had openly espoused 
their cause as against that of Great Britain. It was 
no longer necessary to resort to cunning deceptions to 
buy a warship or sell a prize in a French port. French 
vessels, manned by French crews and commanded by 
French officers, were putting to sea to strike a blow 
against the British. French troops were being sent 
to America. The Stars and Stripes waved by the 
side of the fleur de lys; and Benjamin Franklin, the 
American envoy, was the lion of French society, and 
the idol of the Parisian mob. 

Paul Jones saw in this friendship of France for the 
struggling colonies his opportunity. Heretofore he 
had been condemned to command only slow-going, weak 
ships. He had been hampered by a lack of funds for 
the payment of his crew and the purchase of provisions. 
More than once the inability of the impoverished Con- 
tinental Congress to provide the sinews of war had 
forced him to go down into his own purse for the nec- 
essary funds. All this period of penury he now felt 
was past. He could rely upon the king of France for 
a proper vessel, and the funds with which to prosecute 
his work on the seas. 

29 



30 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

But the sturdy seaman soon found how vexatious Is 
the lot of him who depends upon the bounty of mon- 
archs. Ship after ship was put In commission, but no 
command was tendered to the distinguished American. 
The French naval officers had first to be attended to. 
Jones made earnest appeals to the minister of the 
marine. He brought every possible influence to bear. 
His claims were urged by Dr. Franklin, but all to no 
avail. 

Five months of waiting and ceaseless solicitation of 
the authorities still left the sailor, who had won so 
many victories, stranded in shameful Inactivity. He 
had shrunk from a personal interview with the king, 
trusting rather to the efforts of his friends, many of 
whom were in high favor at Versailles. But one day 
he happened to light upon an old copy of " Poor 
Richard's Almanac," that unique publication In which 
Benjamin Franklin printed so many wise maxims and 
witty sayings. As Jones listlessly turned its pages, his 
eye fell upon the maxim: 

" If you wish to have any business done faithfully 
and expeditiously, go and do it yourself. Otherwise, 
send some one." 

Shutting the book, and dashing it to the floor, Jones 
sprang to his feet exclaiming, " I will go to Versailles 
this very day." Before night he set out, and soon 
reached the royal court. His reputation easily gained 
him an interview; and his frank, self-reliant way so 
impressed the monarch, that in five days the American 
was tendered the command of the ship " Daras," 
mounting forty guns. 

Great was the exultation of the American seaman 
at this happy termination of his labor. Full of grati- 
tude to the distinguished philosopher whose advice had 
proved so effective, he wrote to the minister of marine, 
begging permission to change the name of the vessel 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 31 

to the " Poor Richard," or, translated into French, the 
" Bon Homme Richard." Permission was readily 
granted; and thereafter the " Bon Homme Richard," 
with Paul Jones on the quarter-deck, did valiant work 
for the cause of the young American Republic. 

While the " Bon Homme Richard " was being made 
ready for sea, the vessels that were to sail with her as 
consorts were rtiaking for the rendezvous at I'Orient. 
These vessels were the " Pallas," " Cerf," " Venge- 
ance," and " Alliance." The three former were small 
vessels, built in France, and manned wholly by French- 
men. The " Alliance " was a powerful, well-built 
American frigate, carrying an American crew, but com- 
manded by a French officer — Captain Landais. 

The choice of Landais to command was unfortunate. 
American sailors would not ship under a Frenchman. 
The result was a crew of mixed nationalities, who were 
barely defeated in an attempt to take the ship by 
mutiny. But more than that, Landais was jealous, 
selfish, and eccentric to the point of insanity, as the 
later course of this narrative will show. The first 
brief cruise from I'Orient brought nothing but disaster. 
The " Cerf " did indeed take a small prize, but it 
was retaken by a British frigate, and after an impotent 
two months all the vessels returned to I'Orient. Here 
they lay until the middle of August. More than three 
months had passed since Jones had been given com- 
mand of the " Richard." Most of the time had been 
spent in port. The little cruising that had been done 
had been unproductive of results. Dissension and 
jealousy made the squadron absolutely ineffective. As 
for the '.' Bon Homme Richard," she had proved a 
failure; being unable to overhaul the enemy that she 
wished to engage, or escape from the man-of-war she 
might wish to avoid. Jones saw his reputation fast 
slipping away from him. Bitterly he bewailed the fate 



32 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

that had put him at the mercy of a lot of quarrel- 
some Frenchmen. He determined that when once 
again he got to sea he would ignore his consorts, 
and fight the battles of his country with his own ship 
only. 

It was on the 14th of August that the squadron 
weighed anchor and left the harbor of I'Orient. The 
" Richard " was greatly strengthened by the addition 
to her crew of about one hundred American seamen, 
who had been sent to France from England in ex- 
change for a number of English prisoners. With her 
sailed the same vessels that had previously made up 
the squadron, together with two French privateers, — 
the " Monsieur " and the " Granville." Four days 
after sailing, a large French ship in charge of a British 
prize-crew was sighted. The whole squadron gave 
chase; and the "Monsieur," being the swiftest sailer 
of the fleet, recaptured the prize. Then arose a quar- 
rel. The privateersmen claimed that the prize was 
theirs alone. They had captured it, and the regular 
naval officers had no authority over them. To this 
Captain Jones vigorously demurred, and, taking the 
prize from Its captors, sent It to I'Orient to be dis- 
posed of in accordance with the laws. In high dudgeon, 
the privateers vowed vengeance, and that night the 
" Monsieur " left the squadron. She was a fine, fast 
vessel, mounting forty guns; and her departure greatly 
weakened the fleet. 

A few days later a second serious loss was encoun- 
tered. The fleet was lying off Cape Clear, only a 
few miles from the shore. The day was perfectly 
calm. Not a breath of wind ruffled the calm surface 
of the water. The sails flapped idly against the mast. 
The sailors lay about the decks, trying to keep cool, 
and lazily watching the distant shore. Far off in the 
distance a white sail glimmered on the horizon. It 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 33 

showed no sign of motion, and was clearly becalmed. 
After some deliberation, Captain Jones determined to 
attempt to capture the stranger by means of boats. 
The two largest boats, manned with crews of picked 
men, were sent out to hail the vessel, and, if she proved 
to be an enemy, to capture her. In this they were 
successful, and returned next day, bringing the captured 
craft. 

But, while the two boats were still out after the 
enemy's ship, the tide changed; and Captain Jones soon 
saw that his ship was in danger from a powerful cur- 
rent, that seemed to be sweeping her on shore. A few 
hundred yards from the ship, two dangerous reefs, 
known as the Skallocks and the Blasketts, reared their 
black heads above the calm surface of the sea. To- 
ward these rocks the " Bon Homme Richard " was 
drifting, when Jones, seeing the danger, ordered out 
two boats to tow the ship to a less perilous position. 
As the best men of the crew had been sent away to 
capture the brig, the crews of the two boats were made 
up of the riff-raff of the crew. Many of them were 
Englishmen, mere mercenary sailors, who had shipped 
on the " Richard," secretly intending to desert at the 
first opportunity. Therefore, when night fell, as they 
were still In the boats trying to pull the " Richard's " 
head around, they cut the ropes and made off for the 
shore. 

The desertion was discovered Immediately. The 
night was clear, and by the faint light of the stars the 
course of the receding boats could be traced. The 
sailing-master of the " Richard," a Mr. Trent, being 
the first to discover the treachery, sprang Into a boat 
with a few armed men, and set out In hot pursuit. 
The bow-gun of the " Richard " was hastily trained 
on the deserters, and a few cannon-shot sent after them; 
but without effect. Before the pursuing boat could 



34 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

overhaul the fugitives, a dense bank of gray fog settled 
over the water, and pursued and pursuers were hidden 
from each other and from the gaze of those on the 
man-of-war. All night long the fog, like a moist, im- 
penetrable curtain, rested on the ocean. The next day 
the " Cerf " set out to find the missing boats. As she 
neared the shore, to avoid raising an alarm, she hoisted 
British colors. Hardly had she done so when she was 
seen by Trent and his companions. The fog made 
the outlines of the cutter indistinct, and magnified her 
in the eyes of the Americans, so that they mistook 
her for an English man-of-war. To avoid what they 
thought would lead to certain capture on the water, 
they ran their boat ashore, and speedily fell into the 
hands of the British coast guard. They were at once 
thrown into prison, where the unfortunate Trent soon 
died. The rest of the party were exchanged later in 
the war. 

The loss of the boats, and capture of Mr. Trent and 
his followers, were not the only unfortunate results of 
this incident; for the "Cerf" became lost in the fog, 
and before she could rejoin the fleet a violent gale 
sprang up, and she was carried back to the coast of 
France. She never returned to join the fleet, and Jones 
found his force again depleted. 

But the effective force of the squadron under the 
command of Paul Jones was weakened far more by the 
eccentric and mutinous actions of Captain Landais of 
the " Alliance " than by any losses by desertion or 
capture. When the news of the loss of two boats 
by desertion reached the " Alliance," Landais straight- 
way went to the " Richard," and entering the cabin 
began to upbraid Jones in unmeasured terms for having 
lost two boats through his folly in sending boats to 
capture a brig. 

" It is not true. Captain Landais," answered Jones, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 35 

'* that the boats which are lost are the two which were 
sent to capture the brig." 

" Do you tell me I lie? " screamed the Frenchman, 
white with anger. His officers strove to pacify him, 
but without avail; and he left the " Richard" vowing 
that he would challenge Captain Jones, and kill him. 
Shortly thereafter the " Richard " captured a very 
valuable prize, — a ship mounting twenty-two guns, and 
loaded with sails, rigging, anchors, cables, and other 
essential articles for the navy Great Britain was build- 
ing on the Lakes. By desertion and other causes, the 
crew of the " Richard " was greatly depleted, and not 
enough men could be spared to man the prize. Jones 
applied to Landais for aid. In response the French- 
man said: 

" If it is your wish that I should take charge of the 
prize, I shall not allow any boat or any individual from 
the ' Bon Homme Richard ' to go near her." 

To this absurd stipulation Jones agreed. Landais, 
having thus assumed complete charge of the prize, 
showed his incompetence by sending her, together with 
a prize taken by the " Alliance," to Bergen in Norway. 
The Danish Government, being on friendly terms with 
England, immediately surrendered the vessels to the, 
British ambassador; and the cause of the young republic, 
was cheated of more than two hundred thousand dol- 
lars through the insane negligence of the French captain. 

On the 15th of September, the three vessels lay off 
the port of Leith, a thriving city, which was then, 
as now, the seaport for the greater city of Edinburgh, 
which stands a little farther inland. Jones had come 
to this point cherishing one of those daring plans of 
which his mind was so fertile. He had learned that 
the harbor was full of shipping, and defended only by 
a single armed vessel of twenty guns. Shore batteries 
there were none. The people of the town were resting 



36 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

in fancied security, and had no idea that the dreaded 
Paul Jones was at their very harbor's mouth. It would 
have been an easy matter for the three cruisers to make 
a dash into the harbor, take some distinguished pris- 
oners, demand a huge ransom, fire the shipping, and 
escape again to the open sea. Had Jones been in 
reality, as he was in name, the commander of the little 
fleet, the exploit would have been performed. But 
the lack of authority which had hampered him through- 
out his cruise paralyzed him here. By the time he 
had overcome the timid objections of the captains of 
the " Vengeance " and the " Pallas," all Leith was 
aroused. Still Jones persevered. His arrangements 
were carefully perfected. Troops were to be landed 
under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Chamillard, 
who was to lay before the chief magistrate of the town 
the following letter, written by Jones himself: 

I do not wish to distress the poor inhabitants. My intention is 
only to demand your contribution toward the reimbursement which 
Britain owes to the much injured citizens of America. Savages 
would blush at the unmanly violation and rapacity that have marked 
the tracks of British tyranny in America, from which neither virgin 
innocence nor helpless age has been a plea of protection or pity. 

Leith and its port now lay at our mercy. And did not the plea 
of humanity stay the just hand of retaliation, 1 should without 
advertisement lay it in ashes. Before I proceed to that stern duty 
as an officer, my duty as a man induces me to propose to you, by 
means of a reasonable ransom, to prevent such a scene of horror 
and distress. For this reason, I have authorized Lieutenant-Colonel 
de Chamillard to agree with you on the terms of ransom, allowing 
you exactly half an hour's reflection before you finally accept or 
reject the terms which he shall propose. 

The landing parties having been chosen, the order 
of attack mapped out, and part to be taken by each 
boat's crew accurately defined, the three vessels ad- 
vanced to the attack. It was a bright Sunday morning. 
A light breeze blowing on shore wafted the three ves- 
sels gently along the smooth surface of the bay. It 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 37 

Is said that as the Invaders passed the httle town of 
KIrkaldy, the people were at church, but, seeing the 
three men-of-war passing, deserted the sacred edifice 
for the beach, where the gray-haired pastor, surrounded 
by his flock, offered the following remarkable appeal 
to the Deity : 

" Now, dear Lord, dinna ye think It a shame for ye 
to send this vile pirate to rob our folk o' KIrkaldy? 
Ye ken that they are puir enow already, and hae nae- 
thing to spare. The way the wind blaws, he'll be 
here in a jiffy. And wha kens what he may do? He's 
nae too good for ony thing. Mickles the mischief 
he has done already. He'll burn their hooses, take 
their very claes, and strip them to the very sark. And 
waes me, wha kens but that the bluldy villain might 
tak' their lives ! The puir weemin are most frightened 
out of their wits, and the bairns screeching after them. 
I canna think of it! I canna think of It! 

" I hae long been a faithful servant to ye, O Lord. 
But gin ye dinna turn the wind about, and blaw the 
scoundrel out of our gate, I'll nae stir a foot, but will 
just sit here till the tide comes. Sae tak' your will o't." 

Never was prayer more promptly answered. Hardly 
had the pastor concluded his prayer, when the wind 
veered round, and soon a violent gale was blowing 
off shore. In the teeth of the wind, the ships could 
make no headway. The gale Increased in violence until 
it rivalled In fierceness a tornado. The sea was lashed 
into fury, and great waves arose, on the crests of which 
the men-of-war were tossed about like fragile shells. 
The coal-ship which had been captured was so racked 
and torn by the heavy seas, that her seams opened, and 
she foundered so speedily, that only by the most active 
efforts was her crew saved. After several hours' In- 
effectual battling with the gale, the ships were forced 
to come about and run out to sea; and Jones suffered 



38 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the mortification of witnessing the failure of his enter- 
prise, after having been within gunshot of the town 
that he had hoped to capture. As for the good people 
of KIrkaldy, they were convinced that their escape from 
the daring seamen was wholly due to the personal In- 
fluence of their pastor with the Deity; and the worthy 
parson lived long afterward, ever held in most mighty 
veneration by the people of his flock. 

Disappointed In this plan, Jones continued his cruise. 
Soon after he fell in with the " Alliance " and the 
" Vengeance "; and, while off Flamborough Plead, the 
little squadron encountered a fleet of forty-one merchant 
ships, that, at the sight of the dreaded Yankee cruisers, 
crowded together like a flock of frightened pigeons, 
and made all sail for the shore; while two stately men- 
of-war — the " Serapis, forty-four," and the " Countess 
of Scarborough, twenty-two " — moved forward to give 
battle to the Americans. 

Jones now stood upon the threshold of his greatest 
victory. His bold and chivalric mind had longed for 
battle, and recoiled from the less glorious pursuit of 
burning helpless merchantmen, and terrorizing small 
towns and villages. He now saw before him a chance 
to meet the enemy in a fair fight, muzzle to muzzle, 
and with no overpowering odds on either side. Al- 
though the Americans had six vessels to the English- 
men's two, the odds were in no wise In their favor. 
Two of the vessels were pilot-boats, which, of course, 
kept out of the battle. The " Vengeance," though 
ordered to render the larger vessels any possible as- 
sistance, kept out of the fight altogether, and even 
neglected to make any attempt to overhaul the flying 
band of merchantmen. As for the " Alliance," under 
the erratic Landais,, she only entered the conflict at the 
last moment; and then her broadsides, instead of being 
delivered into the enemy, crashed through the already 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 39 

shattered sides of the " Bon Homme Richard." Thus 
the actual combatants were the " Richard " with forty 
guns, against the " Serapis " with forty-four; and the 
" Pallas " with twenty-two guns, against the " Countess 
of Scarborough " with twenty-two. 

It was about seven o'clock In the evening of a clear 
September day — the twenty-third — that the hostile ves- 
sels bore down upon each other, making rapid prepara- 
tions for the Impending battle. The sea was fast turn- 
ing gray, as the deepening twilight robbed the sky of 
Its azure hue. A brisk breeze was blowing, that filled 
out the bellying sails of the ships, and beat the waters 
into little waves capped with snowy foam. In the 
west the rosy tints of the autumnal sunset were still 
warm In the sky. Nature was In one of her most 
smiling moods, as these men with set faces, and hearts 
throbbing with the mingled emotions of fear and ex- 
citement, stood silent at their guns, or worked busily 
at the ropes of the great warships. 

As soon as he became convinced of the character of 
the two English ships, Jones beat his crew to quarters, 
and signalled his consorts to form in line of battle. 
The people on the " Richard " went cheerfully to their 
guns; and though the ship was extremely short-handed, 
and crowded with prisoners, no voice was raised against 
giving immediate battle to the enemy. The actions 
of the other vessels of the American fleet, however, 
gave little promise of any aid from that quarter. When 
the enemy was first sighted, the swift-sailing " Alli- 
ance " dashed forward to reconnoitre. As she passed 
the " Pallas," Landals cried out, that, if the strange^ 
proved to be a forty-four, the only course for the Amer- 
icans was immediate flight. Evidently the result of 
his investigations convinced him that In flight lay his 
only hope of safety; for he quickly hauled off, and 
stood away from the enemy. The " Vengeance," too, 



40 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ran off to windward, leaving the " Richard " and the 
" Pallas " to bear the brunt of battle. 

It was by this time quite dark, and the position of 
the ships was outlined by the rows of open portholes 
gleaming with the lurid light of the battle-lanterns. 
On each ship rested a stillness like that of death itself. 
The men stood at their guns silent and thoughtful. 
Sweet memories of home and loved ones mingled with 
fearful anticipations of death or of mangling wounds 
In the minds of each. The little lads whose duty in 
time of action it was to carry cartridges from the maga- 
zine to the gunners had ceased their boyish chatter, 
and stood nervously at their stations. Officers walked 
up and down the decks, speaking words of encourage- 
ment to the men, glancing sharply at primers and 
breechings to see that all was ready, and ever and anon 
stooping to peer through the porthole at the line of 
slowly moving lights that told of the approach of 
the enemy. On the quarter-deck, Paul Jones, with his 
officers about him, stood carefully watching the move- 
ments of the enemy through a night glass, giving occa- 
sionally a quiet order to the man at the wheel, and 
now and then sending an agile midshipman below with 
orders to the armorer, or aloft with orders for the 
sharpshooters posted In the tops. 

As the night came on, the wind died away to a gentle 
breeze, that hardly ruffled the surface of the water, 
and urged the ships toward each other but sluggishly. 
As they came within pistol-shot of each other, bow 
to bow, and going on opposite tacks, a hoarse cry came 
from the deck of the " Serapis " : 

"What ship Is that?" 

" What Is that you say? " 

"What ship Is that? Answer Immediately, or I 
shall fire into you." 

Instantly with a flash and roar both vessels opened 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 41 

fire. The thunder of the broadsides reverberated over 
the waters; and the bright Hash of the cannon, together 
with the pale hght of the moon just rising, showed 
Flamborough Head crowded with multitudes who had 
come out to witness the grand yet awful spectacle of a 
naval duel. 

The very first broadside seemed enough to wreck the 
fortunes of the " Richard." On her gun-deck were 
mounted six long eighteens, the only guns she carried 
that were of sufficient weight to be matched against 
the heavy ordnance of the " Serapis." At the very 
first discharge, two of these guns burst with frightful 
violence. Huge masses of iron were hurled in every 
direction, cutting through beams and stanchions, crash- 
ing through floors and bulkheads, and tearing through 
the agonized bodies of the men who served the guns. 
Hardly a man who was stationed on the gun-deck 
escaped unhurt in the storm of iron and splinters. Sev- 
eral huge blocks of iron crashed through the upper 
deck, injuring the people on the deck above, and caus- 
ing the cry to be raised, that the magazine had blown 
up. This unhappy calamity not only rendered useless 
the whole battery of eighteen-pounders, thus forcing 
Jones to fight an eighteen-pounder frigate with a twelve- 
pounder battery, but it spread a panic among the men, 
who saw the dangers of explosion added to the peril 
they were in by reason of the enemy's continued fire. 

Jones himself left the quarter-deck, and rushed for- 
ward among the men, cheering them on, and arousing 
them to renewed activity by his exertions. Now he 
would lend a hand at training some gun, now pull at 
a rope, or help a lagging powder-monkey on his way. 
His pluck and enthusiasm infused new life into the 
men; and they threw the heavy guns about like play- 
things, and cheered loudly as each shot told. 

The two ships were at no time separated by a greater 



42 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

distance than half a pistol-shot, and were continually 
manoeuvring to cross each other's bows, and get in a 
raking broadside. In this attempt, they crossed from 
one to the other side of each other; so that now the 
port and now the starboard battery would be engaged. 
From the shore these evolutions were concealed under 
a dense cloud of smoke, and the spectators could only 
see the tops of the two vessels moving slowly about 
before the light breeze; while the lurid flashes of the 
cannon, and constant thunder of the broadsides, told 
of the deadly work going on. At a little distance 
were the " Countess of Scarborough " and the " Pal- 
las," linked in deadly combat, and adding the roar of 
their cannon to the general turmoil. It seemed to the 
watchers on the heights that war was coming very close 
to England. 

The " Serapis " first succeeded in getting a raking 
position; and, as she slowly crossed her antagonist's 
bow, her guns were fired, loaded again, and again 
discharged— the heavy bolts crashing into the " Rich- 
ard's " bow, and ranging aft, tearing the flesh of the 
brave fellows on the decks, and cutting through timbers 
and cordage in their frightful course. At this mo- 
ment, the Americans almost despaired of the termina- 
tion of the conflict. The " Richard " proved to be 
old and rotten, and the enemy's shot seemed to tear 
her timbers to pieces; while the "Serapis" was new, 
with timbers that withstood the shock of the balls like 
steel armor. Jones saw that in a battle with great 
guns he was sure to be the loser. He therefore re- 
solved to board. 

Soon the " Richard " made an attempt to cross the 
bows of the " Serapis," but not having way enough 
failed; and the "Serapis" ran foul of her, with her 
long bowsprit projecting over the stern of the Amer- 
ican ship. Springing from the quarter-deck, Jones 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 43 

with his own hands swung grappling-irons into the rig- 
ging of the enemy, and made the ships fast. As he 
bent to his work, he was a prominent target for every 
sharpshooter on the British vessel, and the bullets 
hummed thick about his ears; but he never flinched. 
His work done, he clambered back to the quarter-deck, 
and set about gathering the boarders. The two ves- 
sels swung alongside each other. The cannonading 
was redoubled, and the heavy ordnance of the 
" Serapis " told fearfully upon the " Richard." The 
American gunners were driven from their guns by the 
flying cloud of shot and splinters. Each party thought 
the other was about to board. The darkness and the 
smoke made all vision impossible; and the boarders on 
each vessel were crouched behind the bulwarks, ready 
to give a hot reception to their enemies. This suspense 
caused a temporary lull in the firing, and Captain Pear- 
son of the " Serapis " shouted out through the sulphur- 
ous blackness: 

" Have you struck your colors? " 

" I have not yet begun to fight," replied Jones; and 
again the thunder of the cannon awakened the echoes 
on the distant shore. As the firing recommenced, the 
two ships broke away and drifted apart. Again the 
"Serapis" sought to get a raking position; but by 
this time Jones had determined that his only hope lay 
in boarding. Terrible had been the execution on his 
ship. The cockpit was filled with the wounded. The 
mangled remains of the dead lay thick about the decks. 
The timbers of the ship were greatly shattered, and her 
cordage was so badly cut that skilful manoeuvring was 
impossible. Many shot-holes were beneath the water- 
line, and the hold was rapidly filling. Therefore, 
Jones determined to run down his enemy, and get out 
his boarders, at any cost. 

Soon the two vessels were foul again. Captain Pear- 



44 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

son, knowing that his advantage lay in long-distance 
fighting, strove to break away. Jones bent all his 
energies to the task of keeping the ships together. 
Meantime the battle raged fiercely. Jones himself, in 
his oflicial report of the battle, thus describes the course 
of the fight: 

I directed the fire of one of the three cannon against the main- 
mast with double-headed shot, while the other two were exceedingly 
well served with grape and canister shot, to silence the enemy's 
musketry, and clear her decks, which was at last effected. The 
enemy were, as I have since understood, on the instant for calling 
for quarter, when the cowardice or treachery of three of my under 
officers induced them to call to the enemy. The English commodore 
asked me if I demanded quarter; and I having answered him in 
the negative, they renewed the battle with double fury. They were 
unable to stand the deck; but the fury of their cannon, especially 
the lower battery, which was entirely formed of eighteen-pounders, 
was incessant. Both ships were set on fire in various places, and 
the scene was dreadful beyond the reach of language. To account 
for the timidity of my three under officers (I mean the gunner, the 
carpenter, and the master-at-arms), I must observe that the two first 
were slightly wounded ; and as the ship had received various shots 
under water, and one of the pumps being shot away, the carpenter 
expressed his fear that she would sink, and the other two concluded 
that she was sinking, which occasioned the gunner to run aft on the 
poop, without my knowledge, to strike the colors. Fortunately for 
me a cannon-ball had done that before by carrying away the ensign 
staff: he was, therefore, reduced to the necessity of sinking — as he 
supposed — or of calling for quarter; and he preferred the latter. 

Indeed, the petty officers were little to be blamed for 
considering the condition of the " Richard " hopeless. 
The great guns of the " Serapis," with their muzzles 
not twenty feet away, were hurling solid shot and grape 
through the flimsy shell of the American ship. So 
close together did the two ships come at times, that 
the rammers were sometimes thrust into the portholes 
of the opposite ship in loading. When the ships first 
swung together, the lower ports of the " Serapis " were 
closed to prevent the Americans boarding through them. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 45 

But in the heat of the conflict the ports were quickly 
blown off, and the iron throats of the great guns again 
protruded, and dealt out their messages of death. How 
frightful was the scene ! In the two great ships were 
more than seven hundred men, their eyes lighted with 
the fire of hatred, their faces blackened with powder 
or made ghastly by streaks of blood. Cries of pain, 
yells of rage, prayers, and curses rose shrill above the 
thunderous monotone of the cannonade. Both ships 
were on fire; and the black smoke of the conflagration, 
mingled with the gray gunpowder smoke, and lighted 
up by the red flashes of the cannonade, added to the 
terrible picturesqueness of the scene. 

The " Richard " seemed like a spectre ship, so shat- 
tered was her framework. From the main-mast to the 
stern post, her timbers above the water-line were shot 
away, a few blackened posts alone preventing the upper 
deck from falling. Through this ruined shell swept 
the shot of the " Serapis," finding little to impede their 
flight save human flesh and bone. Great streams of 
water were pouring into the hold. The pitiful cries 
of nearly two hundred prisoners aroused the compassion 
of an oflicer, who ran below and liberated them. 
Driven from the hold by the inpouring water, these 
unhappy men ran to the deck, only to be swept down 
by the storm of cannon-shot and bullets. Fire, too, 
encompassed them; and the flames were so fast sweep- 
ing down upon the magazine, that Captain Jones or- 
dered the powder-kegs to be brought up and thrown 
into the sea. At this work, and at the pumps, the 
prisoners were kept employed until the end of the 
action. 

But though the heavy guns of the " Serapis " had it 
all their own way below, shattering the hull of the 
" Richard," and driving the Yankee gunners from 
their quarters, the conflict, viewed from the tops, was 



46 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

not so one-sided. The Americans crowded on the fore- 
castle and in the tops, where they continued the battle 
with musketry and hand-grenades, with such murderous 
effect that the British were driven entirely from the 
upper deck. Once a party of about one hundred picked 
men, mustered below by Captain Pearson, rushed to 
the upper deck of the " Serapis," and thence made a 
descent upon the deck of the " Richard," firing pistols, 
brandishing cutlasses, and yelling like demons. But 
the Yankee tars were ready for them at that game, and 
gave the boarders so spirited a reception with pikes and 
cutlasses, that they were ready enough to swarm over 
the bulwarks, and seek again the comparative safety of 
their own ship. 

But all this time, though the Americans were making 
a brave and desperate defence, the tide of battle was 
surely going against them. Though they held the deck 
of the " Richard " secure against all comers, yet the 
Englishmen were cutting the ship away from beneath 
them, with continued heavy broadsides. Suddenly the 
course of battle was changed, and victory took her 
stand with the Americans, all through the daring and 
coolness of one man — no officer, but a humble jacky. 

The rapid and accurate fire of the sharpshooters on 
the " Richard " had driven all the riflemen of the 
" Serapis " from their posts in the tops. Seeing this, 
the Americans swarmed into the rigging of their own 
ship, and from that elevated station poured down a 
destructive fire of hand-grenades upon the decks of the 
enemy. The sailors on the deck of the " Richard " 
seconded this attack, by throwing the same missiles 
through the open ports of the enemy. 

At last one American topman, filling a bucket with 
grenades, and hanging it on his left arm, clambered 
out on the yard-arm of the *' Richard," that stretched 
far out over the deck of the British ship. Cautiously 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 47 

the brave fellow crept out on the slender spar. His 
comrades below watched his progress, while the sharp- 
shooters kept a wary eye on the enemy, lest some watch- 
ful rifleman should pick off the adventurous blue-jacket. 
Little by little the nimble sailor crept out on the yard, 
until he was over the crowded gun-deck of the " Se- 
rapls." Then, lying at full length on the spar, and 
somewhat protected by it, he began to shower his mis- 
siles upon the enemy's gun-deck. Great was the execu- 
tion done by each grenade; but at last, one better aimed 
than the rest fell through the main hatch to the main 
deck. There was a flash, then a succession of quick 
explosions; a great sheet of flame gushed up through 
the hatchway, and a chorus of cries told of some fright- 
ful tragedy enacted below. 

It seemed that the powder-boys of the " Serapis " 
had been too active in bringing powder to the guns, 
and, instead of bringing cartridges as needed, had kept 
one charge in advance of the demand; so that behind 
every gun stood a cartridge, making a line of cartridges 
on the deck from bow to stern. Several cartridges 
had been broken, so that much loose powder lay upon 
the deck. This was fired by the discharge of the hand- 
grenade, and communicated the fire to the cartridges, 
which exploded in rapid succession, horribly burning 
scores of men. More than twenty men were killed in- 
stantly; and so great was the flame and the force of 
the explosion, that many of them were left with nothing 
on but the collars and wristbands of their shirts, and 
the waistbands of their trousers. 

Captain Pearson in his official report of the battle, 
speaking of this occurrence, says: "A hand-grenade 
being thrown in at one of the lower ports, a cartridge 
of powder was set on fire, the flames of which running 
from cartridge to cartridge all the way aft, blew up 
the whole of the people and officers that were quartered 



48 S.TORY OF OUR NAVY 

abaft the main-mast; from which unfortunate circum- 
stance those guns were rendered useless for the re- 
mainder of the action, and I fear that the greater part 
of the people will lose their lives." 

This event changed the current of the battle. The 
English were hemmed between decks by the fire of the 
American topmen, and they found that not even then 
were they protected from the fiery hail of hand-gren- 
ades. The continual pounding of double-headed shot 
from a gun which Jones had trained upon the main- 
mast of the enemy had finally cut away that spar; and 
It fell with a crash upon the deck, bringing down spars 
and rigging with it. Flames were rising from the 
tarred cordage, and spreading to the framework of 
the ship. The Americans saw victory within their 
grasp. 

But at this moment a new and most unsuspected enemy 
appeared upon the scene. The " Alliance," which had 
stood aloof during the heat of the conflict, now ap- 
peared, and, after firing a few shots into the " Serapis," 
ranged slowly down along the " Richard," pouring a 
murderous fire of grapeshot into the already shattered 
ship. Jones thus tells the story of this treacherous 
and wanton assault: 



I now thought that the battle was at an end. But, to my utter 
astonishment, he discharged a broadside full into the stern of the 
" Bon Homme Richard." We called to him for God's sake to for- 
bear. Yet he passed along the off-side of the ship and continued 
firing. There was no possibility of his mistaking the enemy's ship 
for the " Bon Homme Richard," there being the most essential dif- 
ference in their appearance and construction. Besides, it was then 
full moonlight ; and the sides of the " Bon Homme Richard " were 
all black, and the sides of the enemy's ship were yellow. Yet, for 
the greater security, I showed the signal for our reconnoissance, 
by putting out three lanterns, — one at the bow, one at the stern, and 
one at the middle, in a horizontal line. 

Every one cried that he was firing into the wrong ship, but 
nothing availed. He passed around, firing into the " Bon Homme 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 49 

Richard," head, stern, and broadside, and by one of his volleys 
killed several of my best men, and mortally wounded a good officer 
of the forecastle. My situation was truly deplorable. The " Bon 
Homme Richard " received several shots under the water from the 
" Alliance." The leak gained on the pumps, and the fire increased 
much on board both ships. Some officers entreated me to strike, 
of whose courage and sense 1 entertain a high opinion. I would 
not, however, give up the point. 

Fortunately Landais did not persist in his cowardly 
attack upon his friends in the almost sinking ship, but 
sailed off, and allowed the " Richard " to continue her 
life-and-death struggle with her enemy. The struggle 
was not now of long duration; for Captain Pearson, 
seeing that his ship was a perfect wreck, and that the 
fire was gaining headway, hauled down his colors with 
his own hands, since none of his men could be per- 
suaded to brave the fire from the tops of the " Rich- 
ard." 

As the proud emblem of Great Britain fluttered down, 
Lieutenant Richard Dale turned to Captain Jones, and 
asked permission to board the prize. Receiving an 
affirmative answer, he jumped on the gunwale, seized 
the mainbrace-pendant, and swung himself upon the 
quarter-deck of the captured ship. Midshipman May- 
rant, with a large party of sailors, followed. So great 
was the confusion on the " Serapis," that few of the 
Englishmen knew that the ship had been surrendered. 
x\s Mayrant came aboard, he was mistaken for the 
leader of a boarding-party, and run through the thigh 
with a pike. 

Captain Pearson was found standing alone upon the 
quarter-deck, contemplating with a sad face the shat- 
tered condition of his once noble ship, and the dead 
bodies of his brave fellows lying about the decks. Step- 
ping up to him. Lieutenant Dale said: 

" Sir, I have orders to send you on board the ship 
alongside." 



50 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

At this moment, the first lieutenant of the " Serapis " 
came up hastily, and inquired: 

" Has the enemy struck her flag? " 

" No, sir," answered Dale, " On the contrary, you 
have struck to us." 

Turning quickly to his commander, the English lieu- 
tenant asked: 

"Have you struck, sir?" 

" Yes, I have," was the brief reply. 

" I have nothing more to say," remarked the oflScer, 
and turning about was in the act of going below, when 
Lieutenant Dale stopped him, saying: 

" It is my duty to request you, sir, to accompany 
Captain Pearson on board the ship alongside." 

" If you will first permit me to go below," responded 
the other, " I will silence the firing of the lower deck 
guns." 

" This cannot be permitted," was the response; and, 
silently bowing his head, the lieutenant followed his 
chief to the victorious ship, while two midshipmen went 
below to stop the firing. 

Lieutenant Dale remained in command of the 
*' Serapis." Seating himself on the binnacle, he or- 
dered the lashings which had bound the two ships 
throughout the bloody conflict to be cut. Then the 
head-sails were braced back, and the wheel put down. 
But, as the ship had been anchored at the beginning 
of the battle, she refused to answer either helm or 
canvas. Vastly astounded at this, Dale leaped from 
the binnacle; but his legs refused to support him, and 
he fell heavily to the deck. His followers sprang 
to his aid; and it was found that the lieutenant had 
been severely wounded in the leg by a splinter, but 
had fought out the battle without ever noticing his 
hurt. 

So ended this memorable battle. But the feelings 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 51 

of pride and exultation so natural to a victor died away 
in the breast of the American captain as he looked about 
the scene of wreck and carnage. On all sides lay the 
mutilated bodies of the gallant fellows who had so 
bravely stood to their guns amid the storm of death- 
dealing missiles. There they lay, piled one on top of 
the other, — some with their agonized writhings caught 
and fixed by death; others calm and peaceful, as though 
sleeping. Powder-boys, young and tender, lay by the 
side of grizzled old seamen. In his journal Captain 
Jones wrote: 

A person must have been an eye-witness to form a just idea of 
the tremendous scene of carnage, wreck, and ruin, that everywhere 
appeared. Humanity cannot but recoil from the prospect of such 
finished horror, and lament that war should produce such fatal 
consequences. 

But worse than the appearance of the main deck 
was the scene in the cockpit and along the gun-deck, 
which had been converted into a temporary hospital. 
Here lay the wounded, ranged in rows along the deck. 
Moans and shrieks of agony were heard on every side. 
The tramp of men on the decks overhead, and the 
creaking of the timbers of the water-logged ship, added 
to the cries of the wounded, made a perfect bedlam of 
the place. 

It did not take long to discover that the " Bon 
Homme Richard " was a complete wreck, and in a 
sinking condition. The gallant old craft had kept 
afloat while the battle was being fought; but now, that 
the victory had remained with her, she had given up 
the struggle against the steadily encroaching waves. 
The carpenters who had explored the hold came on 
deck with long faces, and reported that nothing could 
be done to stop the great holes made by the shot of 
the " Serapis." Therefore Jones determined to re- 



52 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

move his crew and all the wounded to the " Serapis," 
and abandon the noble " Richard " to her fate. Ac- 
cordingly, all available hands were put at the pumps, 
and the work of transferring the wounded was begun. 
Slings were rigged over the side; and the poor shat- 
tered bodies were gently lowered into the boats await- 
ing them, and, on reaching the " Serapis," were placed 
tenderly in cots ranged along the main deck. All night 
the work went on; and by ten o'clock the next morning 
there were left on the " Richard " only a few sailors, 
who alternately worked at the pumps, and fought the 
steadily encroaching flames. 

For Jones did not intend to desert the good old ship 
without a struggle to save her, even though both fire 
and water were warring against her. Not until the 
morning dawned did the Americans fully appreciate 
how shattered was the hulk that stood between them 
and a watery grave. Fenimore Cooper, the pioneer 
historian of the United States navy, writes : 

When the day dawned, an examination was made into the situation 
of the " Richard." Abaft on a line with those guns of the 
" Serapis " that had not been disabled by the explosion, the timbers 
were found to be nearly all beaten in, or beaten out, — for in this 
respect there was little difference between the two sides of the 
ship, — and it was said that her poop and upper decks would have 
fallen into the gun-room, but for a few buttocks that had been 
missed. Indeed, so large was the vacuum, that most of the shot 
fired from this part of the " Serapis," at the close of the action, 
must have gone through the " Richard " without touching any 
thing. The rudder was cut from the stern post, and the transoms 
were nearly driven out of her. All the after-part of the ship, in 
particular, that was below the quarter-deck was torn to pieces ; and 
nothing had saved those stationed on the quarter-deck but ihe 
impossibility of sufficiently elevating guns that almost touched their 
object. 

Despite the terribly shattered condition of the ship, 
her crew worked manfully to save her. But, after 
fighting the flames and working the pumps all day, they 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 53 

were reluctantly forced to abandon the good ship to 
her fate. It was about nine o'clock at night that the 
hopelessness of the task became evident. The " Rich- 
ard " rolled heavily from side to side. The sea was up 
to her lower portholes. At each roll the water gushed 
in and swashed through the hatchways. At ten o'clock, 
with a last dying surge, the shattered hulk plunged to 
her final resting-place, carrying with her the bodies of 
her dead. They had died the noblest of all deaths — 
the death of a patriot killed in doing battle for his 
country. They received the grandest of all burials — 
the burial of a sailor who follows his ship to her grave, 
on the hard, white sand, in the calm depths of the 
ocean. 

How many were there that went down with the ship ? 
History does not accurately state. Captain Jones him- 
self was never able to tell how great was the number 
of dead upon his ship. The most careful estimate puts 
the number at forty-two. Of the wounded on the 
American ship, there were about forty. All these were 
happily removed from the " Richard " before she sunk. 

On the " Serapis " the loss was much greater; but 
here, too, history is at fault, in that no official returns 
of the killed and wounded have been preserved. Cap- 
tain Jones's estimate, which is probably nearly correct, 
put the loss of the English ship at about a hundred 
killed, and an equal number wounded. 

The sinking of the " Richard " left the " Serapis " 
crowded with wounded of both nations, prisoners, and 
the remnant of the crew of the sunken ship. No time 
was lost in getting the ship in navigable shape, and 
in clearing away the traces of the battle. The bodies 
of the dead were thrown overboard. The decks were 
scrubbed and sprinkled with hot vinegar. The sound 
of the hammer and the saw was heard on every hand, 
as the carpenters stopped the leaks, patched the deck, 



54 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

and rigged new spars in place of those shattered by the 
" Richard's " fire. All three of the masts had gone 
by the board. Jury masts were rigged; and with small 
sails stretched on these the ship beat about the ocean, 
the plaything of the winds. Her consorts had left her. 
Landais, seeing no chance to rob Jones of the honor 
of the victory, had taken the " Alliance " to other 
waters. The " Pallas " had been victorious in her con- 
test with the " Countess of Scarborough "; and, as soon 
as the issue of the conflict between the " Bon Homme 
Richard " and the " Serapis " had become evident, she 
made off with her prize, intent upon gaining a friendly 
port. The " Richard," after ten days of drifting, finally 
ran into Texel, in the north of Holland. 

The next year was one of comparative inactivity for 
Jones. He enjoyed for a time the praise of all friends 
of the revolting colonies. He was the lion of Paris. 
Then came the investigation into the action of Landais 
at the time of the great battle. Though his course at 
that time was one of open treachery. Inspired by his 
wish to have Jones strilce to the " Serapis," that he 
might have the honor of capturing both ships, Landais 
escaped any punishment at the hands of his French 
compatriots. But he was relieved of the command of 
the " Alliance," which was given to Jones. Highly 
incensed at this action, the erratic Frenchman Incited 
the crew of the " Alliance " to open mutiny, and, tak- 
ing command of the ship himself, left France and sailed 
for America, leaving Commodore Jones In the lurch. 
On his arrival at Philadelphia, Landais strove to justify 
his action by blackening the character of Jones, but 
failed in this, and was dismissed the service. His 
actions should be regarded with some charity, for the 
man was doubtless of unsound mind. His insanity 
became even more evident after his dismissal from the 
navy; and from that time, until the time of his death, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 55 

his eccentricities made him generally regarded as one 
mentally unsound. 

Jones is the one great character in the naval history 
of the Revolution. He is the first heroic figure in ^| 

American naval annals. Not until years after his death 
did men begin to know him at his true worth. He 
was too often looked upon as a man of no patriotism, 
but wholly mercenary; courageous, but only with the 
daring of a pirate. Not until he had died a lonely 
death, estranged from the country he had so nobly 
served, did men come to know Paul Jones as a model 
naval officer, high-minded in his patriotism, pure in his 
life, elevated in his sentiments, and as courageous as a 
lion. 



CHAPTER V 

Britain's Great Naval Force — Biddle and Tucker — An Envoy in 
Battle — The Cruise of the " Raleigh " — The Taking of New 
Providence — The Work of Privateers and Colonial Cruisers — 
The " Alliance " and Captain Barry. 

In giving this continuous account of the services of 
John Paul Jones to the American Navy it has been 
necessary to depart somewhat from the strict order of 
time. Jones's work ended in 1780. Let us go back 
to 1777 and take up with that date the story of the 
war upon the ocean. In the main it was a sputtering 
warfare, made up of raids upon merchant shipping and 
battles between small vessels. Yet the effect of such 
a maritime campaign upon the enemy— particularly an 
enemy like Great Britain, whose merchant vessels 
crowded the seas — was not to be despised. It com- 
pelled the detachment from active service of scores of 
British war vessels to convoy the fleets of commerce. 
It ran up the rates of insurance, paralyzed trade, and 
caused widespread distress. Save for the efforts of 
Jones, who alone among American commanders oper- 
ated in European waters, there was little in this period, 
or indeed during the Revolution, greatly to elate the 
friends of the American Navy, except as we keep in 
view the great disparity between the two combatants. 
Accordingly, for the remainder of this survey of the 
work of the navy during the Revolution only the most 
notable actions, or the most picturesque incidents, will 
be considered. 

The year 1777 witnessed many notable naval events. 
Hostilities along the seaboard became more lively. 
New vessels were put into commission. England dis- 

.56 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 57 

patched a larger naval armament to crush her rebellious 
colonies. The records of the admiralty show that at 
the beginning of that year Parliament voted to the 
navy forty-five thousand men — almost the exact number 
in our navy in 1909. The Americans were able to ar- 
ray against this huge force only some four thousand, 
scattered upon thirteen small vessels-of-war. 

Among the first vessels to get to sea was the " Ran- 
dolph," a new frigate commanded by Nicholas Biddle, 
which sailed from Philadelphia in February. Her 
cruise was luckless from start to fatal finish. A storm 
took out her masts; an attempted mutiny on the part 
of some forty British prisoners failed, but so disorgan- 
ized the crew that it was determined to put into Charles- 
ton to refit and get rid of the mutineers. 

But a few days were spent in port. Getting to sea 
again, the " Randolph " fell in with the " True Briton," 
a twenty-gun ship, flying the British colors. Though 
the captain of the " True Briton " had often boasted 
of what he would do should he encounter the " Ran- 
dolph," his courage then failed him, and he fled. The 
" Randolph " gave chase, and, proving to be a speedy 
ship, soon overhauled the prize, which struck without 
waiting for a volley. Three other vessels that had 
been cruising with the " True Briton " were also cap- 
tured, and with her rich prizes the " Randolph " re- 
turned proudly to Charleston. Here her usefulness 
ceased for a time; for a superior force of British men- 
of-war appeared off the harbor, and by them the " Ran- 
dolph " was blockaded for the remainder of the season. 

On the 7th of March, 1778, the lookouts on the 
smaller vessels saw a signal thrown out from the mast- 
head of the " Randolph," which announced a sail in 
sight. Chase was at once given; and by four o'clock 
she was near enough for the Americans to see that 
she was a large ship, and apparently a man-of-war. 



58 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

About eight o'clock the stranger was near enough the 
squadron for them to make out that she was a heavy 
frigate. 

The EngHshman was not slow to suspect the char- 
acter of the vessels with which he had fallen in, and 
firing a shot across the bows of the " Moultrie," de- 
manded her name, 

" The ' Polly ' of New York," was the response. 

Leaving the " Moultrie " unmolested, the stranger 
ranged up alongside the " Randolph," and ordered her 
to show her colors. This Biddle promptly did; and 
as the American flag went fluttering to the fore, the 
ports of the " Randolph " were thrown open, and a 
broadside poured into the hull of the Englishman. The 
stranger was not slow in replying, and the action became 
hot and deadly. Captain Biddle was wounded in the 
thigh early in the battle. As he fell to the deck, his 
officers crowded about him, thinking that he was killed; 
but he encouraged them to return to their posts, and, 
ordering a chair to be placed on the quarter-deck, re- 
mained on deck, giving orders, and cheering on his 
men. It Is said that Captain Biddle was wounded by 
a shot from the " Moultrie," which flew wide of Its 
Intended mark. 

For twenty minutes the battle raged, and there was 
no sign of weakening on the part of either contestant. 
Suddenly the sound of the cannonade was deadened 
by a thunderous roar. The people on the other ships 
saw a huge column of fire and smoke rise where the 
" Randolph " had floated. The English vessel was 
thrown violently on her beam-ends. The sky was dark- 
ened with flying timbers and splinters, which fell heav- 
ily into the sea. The " Randolph " had blown up. 
A spark, a red-hot shot, some fiery object, had pene- 
trated her magazine, and she was annihilated. 

The disaster which destroyed the " Randolph " came 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 59 

near being the end of the " Yarmouth," her antagonist. 
The two batthng ships were close together; so close, 
in fact, that after the explosion Captain Morgan of 
the " Fair American " hailed the " Yarmouth " to ask 
how Captain Biddle was. The English ship was fairly 
covered with bits of the flying wreck. Some heavy 
pieces of timber falling from the skies badly shattered 
her main-deck. An American ensign, closely rolled up, 
fell on her forecastle, not even singed by the fiery 
ordeal through which it had passed. 

So died Captain Nicholas Biddle, blown to atoms 
by the explosion of his ship in the midst of battle. 
Though but a young officer, not having completed his 
twenty-seventh year, he left an enduring name in the 
naval annals of his country. Though his service was 
short, the fame he won was great. 

Among the more notable commanders who did good 
service on the sea was Captain Samuel Tucker, who was 
put in command of the frigate " Boston " In the latter 
part of the year 1777. Tucker was an old and tried 
seaman, and is furthermore one of the most picturesque 
figures in the naval history of the Revolution. 

When the Revolution broke out, Samuel Tucker was 
In London. Being offered by a recruiting officer a com- 
mission in either the army or navy. If he would consent 
to serve " his gracious Majesty," Tucker very rashly 
responded, " Hang his gracious Majesty ! Do you 
think I would serve against my country?" 

Soon a hue and cry was out for Tucker. He was 
charged with treason, and fled Into the country to the 
house of a tavern-keeper whom he knew, who sheltered 
him until he could make his escape from England. 

Hardly had he arrived in America, when General 
Washington commissioned him captain of the " Frank- 
lin," and instructed him to proceed directly to sea. 

In the " Franklin " Captain Tucker did some most 



6o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

efficient work. His name appears constantly in the 
letters of General Washington, and in the State papers 
making up the American archives, as having sent in 
valuable prizes. At one time we read of the capture 
of a " brigantine from Scotland, worth fifteen thousand 
pounds sterling"; again, of six gunboats, and of brigs 
laden with wine and fruit. During the year 1776, he 
took not less than thirty — and probably a few more — 
ships, brigs, and smaller vessels. Nor were all these 
vessels taken without some sharp fighting. 

Of one battle Tucker himself speaks in one of his 
letters. First telling how his wife made the colors 
for his ship, " the field of which was white, and the 
union was green, made of cloth of her own purchasing, 
and at her own expense," he goes on to write of one 
of his battles: 

Those colors I wore in honor of the country, — which has so nobly 
rewarded me for my past services, — and the love of their maker, 
until I fell in with Col. Archibald Campbell in the ship " George," 
and brig " Arabella," transports with about two hundred and eighty 
Highland troops on board, of Gen. Frazier's corps. About 10 p.m. 
a severe conflict ensued, which held about two hours and twenty 
minutes. I conquered them with great carnage on their side, it 
being in the night, and my small bark, about seventy tons burden, 
being very low in the water, I received no damage in loss of men, 
but lost a complete set of new sails by the passing of their balls ; 
then the white field and pine-tree union were riddled to atoms. I 
was then immediately supplied with a new suit of sails, and a new 
suit of colors, made of canvas and bunting of my own prize-goods. 

Another time, during the same year. Tucker took 
two British ships near Marblehead. So near was the 
scene of action to the house of Captain Tucker, that 
his wife and her sister, hearing the sound of cannonad- 
ing, ascended a high hill in the vicinity, and from that 
point viewed the action through a spy-glass. 

Captain Tucker kept the sea in the " Franklin " 
until late in the winter. When finally the cold weather 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 6i 

and high winds forced him to put his ship out of com- 
mission, he went to his home at Marblehead. He re- 
mained there but a short time; for in March, 1777, he 
was put in command of the " Boston," a frigate of 
twenty-four guns. In this vessel he cruised during the 
year with varying success. 

Early in February, 1778, Captain Tucker was or- 
dered to carry John Adams to France as United States 
Envoy. Impressed with the gravity of his charge he 
chose a course which he hoped would keep him clear 
of the horde of British cruisers then patrolling the 
American coast. But in so doing he fell in with 
a natural enemy, which came near proving fatal. A 
terrific thunderstorm, gradually growing into a tornado, 
crossed the path of the ship. The ocean was lashed 
into waves mountain high. The crash of the thunder 
rent the sky. A stroke of lightning struck the main- 
mast, and ripped up the deck, narrowly missing the 
magazine. The ship sprung a leak; and the grewsome 
sound of the pumps mingled with the roar of the waves, 
and the shrieking of the winds. For several days the 
stormy weather continued. Then followed a period 
of calm, which the captain well employed in repairing 
the rigging, and exercising the men with the guns and 
small arms. Many ships had been sighted, and some, 
evidently men-of-war, had given chase; but the "Bos- 
ton " succeeded in showing them all a clean pair of 
heels. 

" What would you do," said Mr. Adams one day, 
as he stood with the captain watching three ships that 
were making desperate efforts to overhaul the " Bos- 
ton," " if you could not escape, and they should attack 
you?" 

" As the first is far in advance of the others, I should 
carry her by boarding, leading the boarders myself," 
was the response. " I should take her; for no doubt 



62 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

a majority of her crew, being pressed men, would turn 
to and join me. Having taken her, I should be 
matched, and could fight the other two." 

Such language as this coming from many men would 
be considered mere foolhardy boasting. But Tucker 
was a man not given to brag. Indeed, he was apt to 
be very laconic in speaking of his exploits. A short 
time after his escape from the three ships, he fell in 
with an English armed vessel of no small force, and 
captured her. His only comment on the action in his 
journal reads: " I fired a gun, and they returned three; 
and down went the colors." 

John Adams, however, told a more graphic story 
of this capture. Tucker, as soon as he saw an armed 
vessel in his path, hastily called his crew to order, 
and bore down upon her. When the roll of the drum, 
calling the people to quarters, resounded through the 
ship, Mr. Adams seized a musket, and took his stand 
with the marines. Captain Tucker, seeing him there, 
requested him to go below, and upon his desire being 
disregarded, put his hand upon the envoy's shoulder, 
and in a tone of authority said: 

" Mr. Adams, I am commanded by the Continental 
Congress to deliver you. safe in France, and you must 
go below." 

The envoy smilingly complied, and just at that mo- 
ment the enemy let fly her broadside. The shot flew 
through the rigging, doing but little damage. Though 
the guns of the " Boston " were shotted, and the gun- 
ners stood at their posts with smoking match-stocks. 
Captain Tucker gave no order to fire, but seemed intent 
upon the manoeuvres of the ships. The eager blue- 
jackets begun to murmur, and the chorus of questions 
and oaths was soon so great that the attention of 
Tucker was attracted. He looked at the row of eager 
faces on the gun-deck, and shouted out : 








4v 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 63 

" Hold on, my men ! I wish to save that egg with- 
out breaking the shell." 

Soon after, Tucker brought his broadside to bear 
on the stern of the enemy, and she struck without more 
ado. She proved to be an armed ship, the " Martha." 

After this encounter, nothing more of moment oc- 
curred on the voyage, and the " Boston " reached Bor- 
deaux, and landed her distinguished passenger in safety. 
Two months later she left Bordeaux, in company with 
a fleet of twenty sail, one of which was the " Ranger," 
formerly commanded by Paul Jones. With these ves- 
sels he cruised for a time in European waters, but re- 
turned to the American coast in the autumn. His 
services for the rest of that year, and the early part of 
1779, we must pass over hastily, though many were 
the prizes that fell into his clutches. 

Many anecdotes are told of Tucker. His shrewd- 
ness, originality, and daring made him a favorite theme 
for story-tellers. But, unhappily, the anecdotes have 
generally no proof of their truth. One or two, how- 
ever, told by Captain Tucker's biographer, Mr. John 
H. Sheppard, will not be out of place here. 

In one the story is told that Tucker fell in with 
a British frigate which he knew to be sent in search 
of him. Showing the English flag, he sailed boldly to- 
wards the enemy, and in answer to her hail said he was 
Captain Gordon of the English navy, out in search of 
the " Boston," commanded by the rebel Tucker. 

" I'll carry him to New York, dead or alive," said 
Tucker. 

" Have you seen him? " was asked. 

"Well, I've heard of him," was the response; *' and 
they say he is a hard customer." 

All this time Tucker had been manoeuvring to secure 
a raking position. Behind the closed ports of the 
" Boston," the men stood at their guns, ready for the 



64 STORY. OF OUR NAVY 

word of command. Just as the American had secured 
the position desired, a sailor in the tops of the British 
vessel cried out : 

" That Is surely Tucker; we shall have a devil of a 
smell directly." 

Hearing this, Tucker ordered the American flag 
hoisted, and the ports thrown open. Hailing his 
astonished foe, he cried : 

" The time I proposed talking with you Is ended. 
This Is the ' Boston,' frigate, 1 am Samuel Tucker, 
but no rebel. Fire, or strike your flag." 

The Englishman saw he had no alternative but to 
strike. This he did without firing a gun. The vessel, 
though not named in the anecdote, was probably the 
" Pole," of the capture of which Tucker frequently 
speaks in his letters. 

While the Yankee tars on river and harbor duty 
were thus getting their share of fighting, there was 
plenty of daring work being done on the high seas. 
One of the most Important cruises of the year was that 
of the " Raleigh " and the " Alfred." The " Raleigh " 
was one of the twelve-pounder frigates built under the 
naval Act of 1775. With her consort the "Alfred," 
she left the American coast In the summer of 1777, 
bound for France, in search of naval stores that were 
there awaiting transportation to the United States. 
Both vessels were short-handed. 

On the 2d of September the two vessels overhauled 
and captured the snow " Nancy," from England, bound 
for the West Indies. Her captain reported that he 
had sailed from the West Indies with a fleet of sixty 
merchantmen, under the convoy of four small men- 
of-war, the " Camel," the " Druid," the " Weasel," 
and the " Grasshopper." The poor sailing qualities of 
the " Nancy " had forced her to drop behind, and the 
fleet was then about a day In advance of her. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 65 

Crowding on all canvas, the two American ships set 
out in hot pursuit. From the captain of the " Nancy," 
Captain Thompson of the " Raleigh " had obtained 
all the signals in use in the fleet of Indiamen. The 
next morning the fleet was made out; and the " Ra- 
leigh " and the " Alfred " exchanged signals, as though 
they were part of the convoy. They hung about the 
outskirts of the fleet until dark, planning, when the 
night should fall, to make a dash into the enemy's 
midst, and cut out the chief armed vessel. 

But at nightfall the wind changed, so that the plan 
of the Americans was defeated. At daylight, how- 
ever, the wind veered round and freshened, so that the 
" Raleigh," crowding on more sail, was soon in the 
very centre of the enemy's fleet. The " Alfred," un- 
fortunately, being unable to carry so great a spread of 
canvas, was left behind; and the " Raleigh " remained 
to carry out alone her daring adventure. 

The " Raleigh " boldly steered straight into the 
midst of the British merchantmen, exchanging signals I 

with some, and hailing others. Her ports were low- 
ered, and her guns on deck housed, so that there ap- 
peared about her nothing to indicate her true char- 
acter. Having cruised about amid the merchantmen, 
she drew up alongside the nearest man-of-war, and 
when within pistol-shot, suddenly ran up her flag, threw 
open her ports, and commanded the enemy to strike. 

All was confusion on board the British vessel. Her 
ofiicers had never for a moment suspected the " Ra- 
leigh " of being other than one of their own fleet. '^ 
While they stood aghast, not even keeping the vessel II 
on her course, the " Raleigh " poured in a broadside. 
The British responded faintly with a few guns. De- 
liberately the Americans let fly another broadside, 
which did great execution. The enemy were driven 
from their guns, but doggedly refused to strike, hold- 



66 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ing out, doubtless, in the hope that the cannonade 
might draw to their assistance some of the other armed 
ships accompanying the fleet. 

While the unequal combat was raging, a heavy squall 
came rushing over the water. The driving sheets of 
rain shut in the combatants, and only by the thunders 
of the cannonade could the other vessels tell that a 
battle was being fought in their midst. 

When the squall had passed by, the affrighted 
merchantmen were seen scudding in every direction, 
like a school of flying-fish into whose midst some rapa- 
cious shark or dolphin has intruded himself. But the 
three men-of-war, with several armed West-Indiamen 
in their wake, were fast bearing down upon the com- 
batants, with the obvious intention of rescuing their 
comrade, and punishing the audacious Yankee. 

The odds against Thompson were too great; and 
after staying by his adversary until the last possible 
moment, and pouring broadside after broadside into 
her, he abandoned the fight and rejoined the " Alfred." 
The two ships hung on the flanks of the fleet for some 
days, in the hopes of enticing two of the men-of-war 
out to join in battle. But all was to no avail, and 
the Americans were forced to content themselves with 
the scant glory won in the incomplete action of the 
" Raleigh." Her adversary proved to be the " Druid," 
twenty, which suffered severely from the " Raleigh's " 
repeated broadsides, having six killed and twenty-six 
wounded; of the wounded, five died immediately after 
the battle. 

As usual the year's operations were opened by an 
exploit of one of the smaller cruisers. This was the 
United States sloop-of-war " Providence," a trig little 
vessel, mounting only twelve four-pounders, and carry- 
ing a crew of but fifty men. But she was in command 
of a daring seaman. Captain Rathburne, and she opened 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 67 

the year's hostilities with an exploit worthy of Paul 
Jones. 

Oft the southeastern coast of Florida, in that archi- 
pelago or collection of groups of islands known col- 
lectively as the West Indies, lies the small island of 
New Providence. Here in 1778 was a small British 
colony. The well-protected harbor, and the convenient 
location of the island, made it a favorite place for the 
rendezvous of British naval vessels. Indeed, it bid 
fair to become, what Nassau is to-day, the chief British 
naval station on the American coast. In 1778 the 
little seaport had a population of about one thousand 
people. 

With his little vessel, and her puny battery of four- 
pounders. Captain Rathburne determined to undertake 
the capture of New Providence. Only the highest 
daring, approaching even recklessness, could have con- 
ceived such a plan. The harbor was defended by a 
fort of no mean power. There was always one British 
armed vessel, and often more, lying at anchor under 
the guns of the fort. Two hundred of the people 
of the town were able-bodied men, able to bear arms. 
How, then, were the Yankees, with their puny force, 
to hope for success? This query Rathburne answered, 
" By dash and daring." 

It was about eleven o'clock on the night of the 27th 
of January, 1778, that the "Providence" cast anchor 
In a sheltered cove near the entrance to the harbor of 
New Providence. Twenty-five of her crew were put 
ashore, and being reinforced by a few American pris- 
oners kept upon the island, made a descent upon Fort 
Nassau from its landward side. The sentries dozing 
at their posts were easily overpowered, and the garri- 
son was aroused from its peaceful slumbers by the 
cheers of the Yankee blue-jackets as they came tumbling 
in over the ramparts. A rocket sent up from the fort 



68 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

announced the victory to the " Providence," and she 
came in and cast anchor near the fort. 

When morning broke, the Americans saw a large 
sixteen-gun ship lying at anchor in the harbor, together 
with five sail that looked suspiciously like captured 
American merchantmen. The proceedings of the night 
had been quietly carried on, and the crew of the armed 
vessel had no reason to suspect that the condition of 
affairs on shore had been changed In any way during 
the night. But at daybreak a boat carrying four men 
put off from the shore, and made for the armed ship; 
and at the same time a flag was flung out from the flag- 
staff of the fort,— not the familiar scarlet flag of Great 
Britain, but the almost unknown Stars and Stripes of 
the United States. 

The sleepy sailors on the armed vessel rubbed their 
eyes; and while they were staring at the strange piece 
of bunting, there came a hail from a boat alongside, 
and an American officer clambered over the rail. He 
curtly told the captain of the privateer that the fort 
was In the hands of the Americans, and called upon 
him to surrender his vessel forthwith. Resistance was 
useless; for the heavy guns of Fort Nassau were trained 
upon the British ship, and could blow her out of the 
water. The visitor's arguments proved to be unan- 
swerable; and the captain of the privateer surrendered 
his vessel, which was taken possession of by the Amer- 
icans; while her crew of forty-five men was ordered 
Into confinement in the dungeons of the fort which had 
so lately held captive Americans. Other boarding par- 
ties were then sent to the other vessels In the harbor, 
which proved to be American craft, captured by the 
British sloop-of-war " Grayton." 

At sunrise the sleeping town showed signs of reviving 
life, and a party of the audacious Yankees marched 
down to the house of the governor. That functionary 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 69 

was found in bed, and in profound ignorance of the 
events of the night. The Americans broke the news 
to him none too gently, and demanded the keys of the 
disused fortress on the opposite side of the harbor 
from Fort Nassau, For a time the governor was 
inclined to demur; but the determined attitude of the 
Americans soon persuaded him that he was a prisoner, 
though in his own house, and he delivered the keys. 
Thereupon the Americans marched through the streets 
of the city, around the harbor's edge to the fort, spiked 
the guns, and carrying with them the powder and small 
arms, marched back to Fort Nassau. 

But by this time it was ten o'clock, and the whole 
town was aroused. The streets were crowded with 
people eagerly discussing the invasion. The timid 
ones were busily packing up their goods to fly into 
the country; while the braver ones were hunting for 
weapons, and organizing for an attack upon the fort 
held by the Americans. Fearing an outbreak, Captain 
Rathburne sent out a flag of truce, making proclama- 
tion to all the inhabitants of New Providence, that 
the Americans would do no damage to the persons or 
property of the people of the island unless compelled 
so to do in self-defence. This pacified the more tem- 
perate of the inhabitants; but the hotheads, to the num- 
ber of about two hundred, assembled before Fort Nas- 
sau, and threatened to attack it. But, when they sum- 
moned Rathburne to surrender, that officer leaped upon 
the parapet, and coolly told the assailants to come on. 

" We can beat you back easily," said he. " And, 
by the Eternal, if you fire a gun at us, we'll turn the 
guns of the fort on your town, and lay it in ruins." 

This bold defiance disconcerted the enemy; and, after 
some consultation among themselves, they dispersed. 

About noon that day, the British sloop-of-war 
*' Grayton " made her appearance, and stood boldly into 



70 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the harbor where lay the " Providence." The United 
States colors were quickly hauled down from the fort 
flag-staff, and every means was taken to conceal the 
true state of affairs from the enemy. But the inhabi- 
tants along the waterside, by means of constant sig- 
nalling and shouting, at last aroused the suspicion of 
her officers; and she hastily put about, and scudded 
for the open sea. The guns at Fort Nassau opened 
on her as she passed, and the aim of the Yankee gun- 
ners was accurate enough to make the splinters fly. 
The exact damage done her has, however, never been 
ascertained. 

All that night the daring band of blue-jackets held 
the fort unmolested. But on the following morning 
the townspeople again plucked up courage, and to the 
number of five hundred marched to the fort, and plac- 
ing several pieces of artillery in battery, summoned 
the garrison to surrender. The flag of truce that bore 
the summons carried also the threat that, unless the 
Americans laid down their arms without resistance, the 
fort would be stormed, and all therein put to the sword 
without mercy. 

For answer to the summons, the Americans nailed 
their colors to the mast, and swore that while a man 
of them lived the fort should not be surrendered. By 
this bold defiance they so awed the enemy that the day 
passed without the expected assault; and at night the 
besiegers returned to their homes, without having fired 
a shot. 

All that night the Americans worked busily, trans- 
ferring to the " Providence " all the ammunition and 
stores in the fort; and the next morning the prizes were 
manned, the guns of the fort spiked, and the adven- 
turous Yankees set sail in triumph. For three days 
they had held possession of the island, though out- 
numbered tenfold by the inhabitants; they had cap- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 71 

tured large quantities of ammunition and naval stores; 
they had freed their captured countrymen ; they had 
retaken from the British five captured American ves- 
sels, and in the whole affair they had lost not a single 
man. It was an achievement of which a force of triple 
the number might have been proud. 

But perhaps the greatest naval event of 1778 in 
American waters was the arrival of the fleet sent by 
France to co-operate with the American forces. Not 
that anything of importance was ever accomplished by 
this naval force : the French officers seemed to find 
their greatest satisfaction in manoeuvring, reconnoitring, 
and performing in the most exact and admirable man- 
ner all the preliminaries to a battle. Having done 
this, they would sail away, never firing a gun. The 
Yankees were prone to disregard the nice points of 
naval tactics. Their plan was to lay their ships along- 
side the enemy, and pound away until one side or the 
other had to yield or sink. But the French allies were 
strong on tactics, and somewhat weak in dash; and, as 
a result, there is not one actual combat in which they 
figured to be recorded. 

It was a noble fleet that France sent to the aid of 
the struggling Americans, — twelve ships-of-the-line and 
three frigates. What dashing Paul Jones would have 
done, had he ever enjoyed the command of such a fleet, 
almost passes imagination. Certain it is that he would 
have wasted little time in formal evolutions. But the 
fleet was commanded by Count d'Estaing, a French 
naval officer of honorable reputation. What he ac- 
complished during his first year's cruise in American 
waters, can be told in a few words. His intention 
was to trap Lord Howe's fleet in the Delaware, but 
he arrived too late. He then followed the British to 
New York, but was baffled there by the fact that his 
vessels were too heavy to cross the bar. Thence he 



72 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

went to Newport, where the appearance of his fleet 
frightened the British into burning four of their 
frigates, and sinking two sloops-of-war. Lord Howe, 
hearing of this, plucked up courage, and, gathering 
together all his ships, sailed from New York to New- 
port, to give battle to the French. The two fleets 
were about equally matched. On the loth of August 
the enemies met in the open sea, off Newport. For 
two days they kept out of range of each other, manoeu- 
vring for the weather-gage; that is, the French fleet, 
being to windward of the British, strove to keep that 
position, while the British endeavored to take it from 
them. The third day a gale arose; and when it sub- 
sided the ships were so crippled, that, after exchanging 
a few harmless broadsides at long range, they with- 
drew, and the naval battle was ended. 

Such was the record of d'Estaing's magnificent fleet 
during 1778. Certainly the Americans had little to 
learn from the representatives of the power that had 
for years contended with England for the mastery of 
the seas. 

In observing the course of naval events in 1779, 
it is noticeable that the most effective work was done 
by the cruisers sent out by the individual States, or by 
privateers. The United States navy, proper, did little 
except what was done in European waters by Paul 
Jones. Indeed, along the American coast, a few cruises 
in which no actions of moment occurred, although 
several prizes were taken, make up the record of naval 
activity for the year. 

The first of these cruises was that made in April 
by the ships " Warren," " Queen of France," and 
" Ranger." They sailed from Boston, and were out 
but a few days when they captured a British privateer 
of fourteen guns. From one of the sailors on this 
craft it was learned that a large fleet of transports 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 73 

and storeships had just sailed from New York, bound 
for Georgia. Crowding on all sail, the Americans 
set out in pursuit, and off Cape Henry overhauled the 
chase. Two fleets were sighted, one to windward num- 
bering nine sail, and one to leeward made up of ten 
sail. The pursuers chose the fleet to windward for 
their prey, and by sharp work succeeded in capturing 
seven vessels in eight hours. Two of the ships were 
armed cruisers of twenty-nine and sixteen guns respect- 
ively, and all the prizes were heavy laden with pro- 
visions, ammunition, and cavalry accoutrements. All 
were safely taken into port. 

In June, another fleet of United States vessels left 
Boston in search of British game. For a time the 
cruisers fell in with nothing of importance. But one 
day about the middle of July, as the three vessels lay 
hove to off the banks of Newfoundland, in the region 
of perpetual fog, the dull booming of a signal gun 
was heard. Nothing was to be seen on any side. 
From the quarter-deck, and from the cross-trees alike, 
the eager eyes of the officers and seamen strove in 
vain to penetrate the dense curtain of gray fog that 
shut them in. But again the signal gun sounded, then 
another; and tone and direction alike told that the 
two reports had not come from the same cannon. Then 
a bell was heard telling the hour, — another, still an- 
other; then a whole chorus of bells. Clearly a large 
fleet was shut in the fog. 

About eleven o'clock in the morning the fog lifted, 
and to their intense surprise the crew of the " Queen of 
France " found themselves close alongside of a large 
merchant-ship. As the fog cleared away more com- 
pletely, ships appeared on every side; and the astonished 
Yankees found themselves in the midst of a fleet of 
about one hundred and fifty sail under convoy of a 
British ship-of-the-line, and several frigates and sloops- 



74 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of-war. Luckily the United States vessels had no 
colors flying, and nothing about them to betray their 
nationality: so Captain Rathburn of the "Queen" 
determined to try a little masquerading. 

Bearing down upon the nearest merchantman, he 
hailed her; and the following conversation en- 
sued : 

"What fleet is this?" 

" British merchantmen from Jamaica, bound for 
London. Who are you? " 

" His Majesty's ship ' Arethusa,' " answered Rath- 
burn boldly, " from Halifax on cruise. Have you seen 
any Yankee privateers?" 

" Ay, ay, sir," was the response. " Several have 
been driven out of the fleet." 

" Come aboard the ' Arethusa,' then. I wish to 
consult with you." 

Soon a boat put off from the side of the merchant- 
man, and a jolly British sea-captain confidently 
clambered to the deck of the " Queen." Great was 
his astonishment to be told that he was a prisoner, and 
to see his boat's crew brought aboard, and their places 
taken by American jackies. Back went the boat to 
the British ship ; and soon the Americans were in con- 
trol of the craft, without in the least alarming the 
other vessels, that lay almost within hail. The 
" Queen " then made up to another ship, and captured 
her in the same manner. 

But at this juncture Commodore Whipple, in the 
" Providence," hailed the " Queen," and directed Rath- 
burn to edge out of the fleet before the British men- 
of-war should discover his true character. Rathburn 
protested vigorously, pointing out the two vessels he 
had captured, and urging Whipple to follow his ex- 
ample, and capture as many vessels as he could in the 
same manner. Finally Whipple overcame his fears, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 75 

and adopted Rathburn's methods, with such success 
that shortly after nightfall the Americans left the fleet, 
taking with them eleven rich prizes. Eight of these 
they succeeded in taking safe to Boston, where they 
were sold for more than a million dollars. 

The autumn and winter passed without any further 
exploits on the part of the navy. The number of 
the regular cruisers had been sadly diminished, and 
several were kept blockaded in home ports. Along 
the American coast the British cruisers fairly swarmed; 
and the only chance for the few Yankee ships afloat 
was to keep at sea as much as possible, and try to 
intercept the enemy's privateers, transports, and 
merchantmen, on their way across the ocean. 

One United States frigate, and that one a favorite 
ship in the navy, was ordered abroad in February, 
178 1, and on her voyage did some brave work for her 
country. This vessel was the " Alliance," once under 
the treacherous command of the eccentric Landais, and 
since his dismissal commanded by Captain John Barry, 
of whose plucky fight in the " Raleigh " we have al- 
ready spoken. The " Alliance " sailed from Boston, 
carrying an army officer on a mission to France. She 
made the voyage without sighting an enemy. Having 
landed her passenger, she set out from I'Orient, with 
the " Lafayette," forty, in company. The two cruised 
together for three days, capturing two heavy privateers. 
They then parted, and the " Alliance " continued her 
cruise alone. 

On the 28th of May the lookout reported two sail 
in sight; and soon the strangers altered their course, 
and bore down directly upon the American frigate. 
It was late in the afternoon, and darkness set in before 
the strangers were near enough for their character to 
be made out. At dawn all eyes on the " Alliance " 
scanned the ocean in search of the two vessels, which 



76 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

were then easily seen to be a sloop-of-war and a brig. 
Over each floated the British colors. 

A dead calm rested upon the waters. Canvas was 
spread on all the ships, but flapped idly against the 
yards. Not the slightest motion could be discerned, 
and none of the ships had steerage-way. The enemy 
had evidently determined to fight; for before the sun 
rose red and glowing from beneath the horizon, sweeps 
were seen protruding from the sides of the two ships, 
and they gradually began to lessen the distance be- 
tween them and the American frigate. Captain Barry 
had no desire to avoid the conflict; though in a calm, 
the lighter vessels, being manageable with sweeps, had 
greatly the advantage of the " Alliance," which could 
only lie like a log upon the water. Six hours of weary 
work with the sweeps passed before the enemy came 
near enough to hail. The usual questions and answers 
were followed by the roar of the cannon, and the action 
began. The prospects for the " Alliance " were dreary 
indeed; for the enemy took positions on the quarters 
of the helpless ship, and were able to pour In broad- 
sides, while she could respond only with a few of her 
aftermost guns. But, though the case looked hopeless, 
the Americans fought on, hoping that a wind might 
spring up, that would give the good ship " Alliance " 
at least a fighting chance. 

As Barry strode the quarter-deck, watching the prog- 
ress of the fight, encouraging his men, and looking out 
anxiously for indications of a wind, a grape-shot struck 
him in the shoulder, and felled him to the deck. He 
was on his feet again in an instant; and though weak- 
ened by the pain, and the rapid flow of blood from the 
wound, he remained on deck. At last, however, he 
became too weak to stand, and was carried below. 
At this moment a flying shot carried away the Amer- 
ican colors; and, as the fire of the "Alliance" was 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 77 

stopped a moment for the loading of the guns, the 
enemy thought the victory won, and cheered lustily. 
But their triumph was of short duration; for a new 
ensign soon took the place of the vanished one, and 
the fire of the " Alliance " commenced again. 

The " Alliance " was now getting into sore straits. 
The fire of the enemy had told heavily upon her, and 
her fire in return had done but little visible damage. 
As Captain Barry lay on his berth, enfeebled by the 
pain of his wound, and waiting for the surgeon's atten- 
tion, a lieutenant entered. 

" The ship remains unmanageable, sir," said he. 
" The rigging is badly cut up, and there is danger that 
the fore-top-mast may go by the board. The enemy's 
fire is telling on the hull, and the carpenter reports 
two leaks. Eight or ten of the people are killed, and 
several officers wounded. Have we your consent to 
striking the colors? " 

" No, sir," roared out Barry, sitting bolt upright. 
" And, if this ship can't be fought without me, I will 
be carried on deck." 

The lieutenant returned with his report; and, when 
the story became known to the crew, the jackies cheered 
for their dauntless commander. 

" We'll stand by the old man, lads," said one of the 
petty officers. 

"Ay, ay, that we will! We'll stick to him right 
manfully," was the hearty response. 

But now affairs began to look more hopeful for the 
" Alliance." Far away a gentle rippling of the water 
rapidly approaching the ship gave promise of wind. 
The quick eye of an old boatswain caught sight of it. 
"A breeze, a breeze! " he cried; and the jackies took 
up the shout, and sprang to their stations at the ropes, 
ready to take advantage of the coming gust. Soon 
the breeze arrived, the idly flapping sails filled out, the 



78 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

helmsman felt the responsive pressure of the water as 
he leaned upon the wheel, the gentle ripple of the water 
alongside gladdened the ears of the blue-jackets, the 
ship keeled over to leeward, then swung around re- 
sponsive to her helm, and the first effective broadside 
went crashing into the side of the nearest British vessel. 
After that, the conflict was short. Though the enemy 
had nearly beaten the " Alliance " in the calm, they 
were no match for her when she was able to manoeuvre. 
Their resistance was plucky; but when Captain Barry 
came on deck, with his wound dressed, he was just 
in time to see the flags of both vessels come fluttering 
to the deck. 

The two prizes proved to be the " Atlanta " sixteen, 
and the " Trepassy," fourteen. Both were badly cut 
up, and together had suffered a loss of forty-one men 
in killed and wounded. On the " Alliance " were 
eleven dead, and twenty-one wounded. 

Once more before the cessation of hostilities between 
Great Britain and the United States threw her out of 
commission did the " Alliance " exchange shots with 
a hostile man-of-war. It was in 1782, when the noble 
frigate was engaged in bringing specie from the West 
Indies. She had under convoy a vessel loaded with 
supplies, and the two had hardly left Havana when 
some of the enemy's ships caught sight of them, and 
gave chase. While the chase was in progress, a fifty- 
gun ship hove in sight, and was soon made out to be 
a French frigate. Feeling that he had an ally at hand, 
Barry now wore ship, and attacked the leading vessel, 
and a spirited action followed, until the enemy, finding 
himself hard pressed, signalled for his consorts, and 
Barry, seeing that the French ship made no sign of 
coming to his aid, drew off. 

Irritated by the failure of the French frigate to come 
to his assistance, Barry bore down upon her and hailed. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 79 

The French captain declared that the manoeuvres of 
the " AHiance " and her antagonist had made him 
suspect that the engagement was only a trick to draw 
him into the power of the British fleet. He had feared 
that the " Alliance " had been captured, and was being 
used as a decoy; but now that the matter was made 
clear to him, he would join the " Alliance " in pursuit 
of the enemy. This he did; but Barry soon found 
that the fifty was so slow a sailer, that the " Alliance " 
might catch up with the British fleet, and be knocked 
to pieces by their guns, before the Frenchman could 
get within range. Accordingly he abandoned the chase 
in disgust, and renewed his homeward course. Some 
years later, an American gentleman travelling in 
Europe met the British naval officer who commanded 
the frigate which Barry had engaged. This officer, 
then a vice-admiral, declared that he had never before 
seen a ship so ably fought as was the " Alliance," and 
acknowledged that the presence of his consorts alone 
saved him a drubbing. 

This engagement was the last fought by the " Al- 
liance " during the Revolution, and with it we practi- 
cally complete our narrative of the work of the regular 
navy during that war. One slight disaster to the 
American cause alone remains to be mentioned. The 
" Confederacy," a thirty-two-gun frigate built in 1778, 
was captured by the enemy in 178 1. She was an 
unlucky ship, having been totally dismasted on her 
first cruise, and captured by an overwhelming force on 
her second. 

Though this chapter completes the story of the regu- 
lar navy during the Revolution, there remain many 
important naval events to be described in an ensuing 
chapter. The work of the ships fitted out by Con- 
gress was aided greatly by the armed cruisers furnished 
by individual States, and privateers. Some of the 



8o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

exploits of these crafts and some desultory maritime 
hostilities we shall describe in the next chapter. And 
if the story of the United States navy, as told in these 
few chapters, seems a record of events trivial as com- 
pared with the gigantic naval struggles of i8i2 and 
1 86 1, it must be remembered that not only were naval 
architecture and ordnance in their infancy in 1776, but 
that the country was young, and its sailors unused to 
the ways of war. But that country, young as it was, 
produced Paul Jones; and It is to be questioned whether 
any naval war since has brought forth a braver or 
nobler naval officer, or one more skilled in the handling 
of a single ship-of-war. 



CHAPTER VI 

1 

Work of the Privateers — The " General Hancock " and the 
" Levant " — Exploit of the " Pickering " — Raiding Nova Scotia 
— "Congress" and "Savage" — " Hyder Ali " and "General 
Monk." 

To chronicle in full the myriad exploits and experiences 
of the privateers and armed cruisers in the service of 
individual States during the Revolution, would require 
a volume thrice the size of this. Moreover, it is diffi- 
cult and well-nigh impossible to obtain authentic in- 
formation regarding the movements of this class of 
armed craft. An immense number of anecdotes of 
their prowess is current, and some few such narratives 
will be repeated in this chapter; but, as a rule, they 
are based only upon tradition, or the imperfect and 
often incorrect reports in the newspapers of the day. 

The loss inflicted upon Great Britain by the activity 
of American privateers was colossal. For the first year 
of the war the Continental Congress was unwilling to 
take so belligerent a step as to encourage privateering; 
but, in the summer of 1776, the issuing of letters of 
marque and reprisal was begun, and in a short time 
all New England had gone to privateering. The 
ocean fairly swarmed with trim Yankee schooners and 
brigs, and in the two years that followed nearly eight 
hundred merchantmen were taken. 

Discipline on the privateers was lax, and the profits 
of a successful cruise were enormous. Often a new, 
speedy craft paid her whole cost of construction on 
her first cruise. The sailors fairly revelled in money 
at the close of such a cruise; and, like true jack-tars, 
they made their money fly as soon as they got ashore. 
A few days would generally suffice to squander all the 



82 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

earnings of a two-months' cruise; and, penniless but 
happy, Jack would ship for another bout with fortune. 

A volume could be written dealing with the exploits 
of the privateers, but for our purpose a few instances 
of their dash and spirit will be enough. Though the 
purpose of the privateers was purely mercenary, their 
chief end and aim being to capture defenceless merchant- 
men, yet they were always ready to fight when fight- 
ing was necessary, and more than once made a good 
showing against stronger and better disciplined naval 
forces. In many cases audacity and dash more than 
made up for the lack of strength. 

In 1777 two American privateers hung about the 
British Isles, making captures, and sending their prizes 
Into French ports. The exploits of Paul Jones were 
equalled by these irregular cruisers. One of them, 
being in need of provisions, put Into the little Irish 
port of Beerhaven, and lay at anchor for ten hours, 
while her crew scoured the town in search of the needed 
stores. A second privateer boldly entered a harbor 
on the Island of Guernsey. A castle at the entrance 
of the harbor opened fire upon her, whereupon she 
came about, and, keeping out of range of the castle 
guns, captured a large brig that was making for the 
port. When night fell, the privateer sent a boat's 
crew ashore, and took captive two officers of the local 
militia. 

In 1778 occurred an action between a private armed 
ship and a British frigate. In which the privateer was 
signally successful. On the 19th of September of that 
year, the " General Hancock," a stout-built, well-armed 
and manned privateer, fell in with the " Levant," a 
British frigate of thirty-two guns. The " Hancock " 
made no attempt to avoid a conflict, and opened with 
a broadside without answering the enemy's hail. The 
action was stubbornly contested upon both sides. After 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 83 

an hour of fighting, the captain of the Yankee ship, 
peering through the smoke, saw that the colors no 
longer waved above his adversary. 

" Have you struck? " he shouted. 

" No. Fire away," came the response faintly 
through the roar of the cannon. Two hours longer 
the combat raged, with the ships lying yard-arm to 
yard-arm. A ball struck Captain Hardy of the " Han- 
cock " in the neck, and he was carried below, while 
the first lieutenant took command of the ship. A few 
minutes later there arose a deafening roar and blinding 
flash; a terrific shock threw the men on the American 
ship to the deck. Stifling smoke darkened the atmos- 
phere; and pieces of timber, cordage, and even hor- 
ribly torn bits of human flesh began to fall upon the 
decks. When the smoke cleared away, the Americans 
looked eagerly for their enemy. Where she had floated 
a minute or two before, was now a shattered, blackened 
hulk fast sinking beneath the waves. The surface 
of the sea for yards around was strewn with wreckage, 
and here and there men could be seen struggling for 
life. As ready to save life as they had been to destroy 
it, the Americans lowered their boats and pulled about, 
picking up the survivors of the explosion. The boat- 
swain of the ill-fated ship and seventeen of the crew 
were thus saved, but more than fourscore brave fellows 
went down with her. The American vessel herself 
was damaged not a little by the violence of the ex- 
plosion. 

This was not the only case during this year in which 
a British man-of-war met defeat at the guns of a 
Yankee privateer. The " Hinchinbrooke," sloop-of- 
war fourteen; the "York," tender twelve; and the 
" Enterprise," ten guns, — all struck their colors to 
private armed vessels flying the Stars and Stripes. 

By 1778 the privateers under the British flag were 



84 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

afloat in no small number. America had no commerce 
on which they might prey, and they looked forward 
only to recapturing those British vessels that had been 
taken by Yankee privateers and sent homeward. That 
so many British vessels should have found profitable 
employment in this pursuit is in itself a speaking tribute 
to the activity of the American private armed navy. 

During the Revolution, as during the second war 
with Great Britain in 1812, Salem, Mass., and Balti- 
more, Md., were the principal points from which priva- 
teers hailed. In all the early wars of the United 
States, the term " Salem privateer " carried with it a 
picture of a fleet schooner, manned with a picked crew 
of able seamen, commanded by a lanky Yankee skipper 
who knew the byways of old ocean as well as the high- 
ways of trade, armed with eight, four, or six pounders, 
and a heavy " Long Tom " amidships. Scores of such 
craft sailed from Salem during the Revolution; and 
hardly a week passed without two or three returning 
privateers entering the little port and discharging their 
crews to keep the little village in a turmoil until their 
prize money was spent, or, to use the sailors' phrase, 
until " no shot was left in the locker." 

One of the most successful of the Salem privateers 
was the " Pickering," a craft carrying a battery of six- 
teen guns, and a crew of forty-seven men. On one 
cruise she fought an engagement of an hour and a 
half with a British cutter of twenty guns; and so roughly 
did she handle the enemy, that he was glad to sheer 
off. A day or two later, the " Pickering " overhauled 
the " Golden Eagle," a large schooner of twenty-two 
guns and fifty-seven men. The action which followed 
was ended by the schooner striking her flag. A prize 
crew was then put aboard the " Golden Eagle," and 
she was ordered to follow in the wake of her captor. 
Three days later the British sloop-of-war " Achilles " 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 85 

hove in sight, and gave chase to the privateer and her 
prize. After a fifteen hours' chase the prize was over- 
hauled; and the sloop-of-war, after taking possession 
of her, continued in pursuit of the privateer. But 
while the privateersmen had preferred flight to fighting 
while nothing was at stake, they did not propose to 
let their prize be taken from them without a resistance, 
however great the odds against them. Accordingly 
they permitted the " Achilles " to overhaul them, and 
a sharp action followed. The British tried to force 
the combat by boarding; but the Americans, with pikes 
and cutlasses, drove them back to their own ship. Then 
the two vessels separated, and during the rest of the 
conflict came no nearer each other than the length of 
a pistol-shot. At this distance they carried on a spirited 
cannonade for upwards of three hours, when the 
" Achilles," concluding that she had had enough, 
sheered off. Thereupon, the " Pickering " coolly ran 
back to her late prize, took possession of her, captured 
the lieutenant and prize crew that the " Achilles " had 
put in charge of her, and continued her cruise. 

A good example of the Baltimore privateers was the 
" Revenge," mounting eighteen guns, with a crew of 
fifty men. In 1780 this vessel was commanded by 
Captain Alexander Murray of the regular navy. She 
was engaged by a large number of Baltimore merchants 
to convoy a fleet of merchantmen, but had hardly 
started to sea with her charges when she fell in with 
a fleet of British vessels, anci was forced to retreat 
up the Patuxent River. While there, the American 
fleet was strengthened by several privateers and armed 
merchant-vessels which joined it, so that it was felt 
safe to try again to get to sea. Accordingly the at- 
tempt was made; but, though the captains of the fleet 
had signed a solemn compact to stand together in case 
of danger, the sudden appearance of a fleet of hostile 



86 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

armed vessels sent all scurrying up the Patuxent 
again, except one brig and a schooner. The British 
fleet consisted of a ship of eighteen guns, a brig of 
sixteen, and three privateer schooners. Leaving the 
schooners to his two faithful consorts, Murray' threw 
himself between the two larger vessels and the flying 
merchantmen. Seeing themselves thus balked of their 
prey, the enemy turned fiercely upon the " Revenge," 
but were met with so spirited a resistance, that they 
hauled off after an hour's fighting. The other Amer- 
ican vessels behaved equally well, and the discomfiture 
of the British was complete, 

Philadelphia, though not looked upon as a centre of 
privateering activity, furnished one privateer that made 
a notable record. This was the " Holkar," sixteen 
guns. In April, 1780, she captured a British schooner 
of ten guns; and in May of the same year she fought 
a desperate action with a British privateer brig, the 
name of which has never been ascertained. Twice 
the Briton sheered off to escape the telling fire of the 
American; but the " Holkar" pressed him closely, and 
only the appearance of a second British armed vessel 
at the scene of the action saved the Englishman from 
capture. This battle was one of the most sanguinary 
ever fought by private armed vessels; for of the crew 
of the " Holkar " six were killed and sixteen wounded, 
including the captain and first lieutenant, while of the 
enemy there were about the same number killed and 
twenty wounded. Three months later this same priva- 
teer fell in with the British sixteen-gun cutter " Hypo- 
crite," and captured her after a sharp conflict. 

Perhaps the most audacious privateering exploit was 
that of the privateers " Hero," " Hope," and " Swal- 
low," in July, 1782. The captains of these craft, meet- 
ing after an unprofitable season upon the high seas, con- 
ceived the idea of making a descent upon the Nova 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 87 

Scotian town of Lunenberg, some thirty-five miles from 
Halifax. Little time was wasted in discussion. Priva- 
teers are not hampered by official red tape. So it 
happened that early In the month the three privateers 
appeared off the harbor of the threatened town, having 
landed a shore party of ninety men. Before the in- 
vaders the inhabitants retreated rapidly, making some 
slight resistance. Two block-houses, garrisoned by 
British regulars, guarded the town. One of these 
fortresses the Americans burned, whereupon the British 
established themselves in the second, and prepared to 
stand a siege. Luckily for the Americans, the block- 
house was within range of the harbor; so that the three 
privateers took advantageous positions, and fired a 
few rounds of solid shot into the enemy's wooden cita- 
del. The besieged then made haste to raise the white 
flag, and surrendered themselves prisoners-of-war. 
When the Yankee ships left the harbor, they took with 
them a large quantity of merchandise and provisions, 
and a thousand pounds sterling by way of ransom. 

One more conflict, In which the Irregular naval forces' 
of the United States did credit to themselves, must be 
described before dismissing the subject of privateering. 
In September, 1781, the British sloop-of-war "Sav- 
age " was cruising off the southern coast of the United 
States. Her officers and men were in a particularly 
good humor, and felt a lively sense of self-satisfaction; 
for they had just ascended the Potomac, and plundered 
General Washington's estate, — an exploit which would 
make them heroes In the eyes of their admiring country- 
men. 

Off Charleston the " Savage " encountered the Amer- 
ican privateer " Congress," of about the same strength 
as herself, — twenty guns and one hundred and fifty 
men. In one respect the " Congress " was the weaker; 
for her crew was composed largely of landsmen, and 



88 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

her marines were a company of militia, most of whom 
were sadly afflicted with seasickness. Nevertheless, 
the Yankee craft rushed boldly into action, opening fire 
with her bow-chasers as soon as she came within range. 
Like two savage bulldogs, the two ships rushed at each 
other, disdaining all manoeuvring, and seemingly intent 
only upon locking in a deadly struggle, yard-arm to 
yard-arm. At first the " Savage " won a slight ad- 
vantage. Swinging across the bow of the " Congress," 
she raked her enemy twice. But soon the two ships 
lay side by side, and the thunder of the cannon was 
constant. The militia-marines on the " Congress " did 
good service. Stationed in the tops, on the forecastle, 
the quarter-deck, and every elevated place on the ship, 
they poured down upon the deck of the enemy a mur- 
derous fire. The jackies at the great guns poured in 
broadsides so well directed that soon the " Savage " 
had not a rope left with which to manage the sails. 
Her quarter-deck was cleared, and not a man was to 
be seen to serve as a mark for the American gunners. 
So near lay the two vessels to each other, that the 
fire from the guns scorched the gunners on the oppo- 
site ship. The antagonists were inextricably entangled; 
for the mizzen-mast of the " Savage " had been shot 
away, and had fallen into the after-rigging of the 
" Congress." There was no flight for the weaker ves- 
sel. When she could no longer fight, surrender was 
her only recourse. Neither vessel showed any colors, 
for both ensigns had been shot away early in the action. 
Accordingly, when the boatswain of the " Savage " was 
seen upon the forecastle wildly waving his arms, it was 
taken as an evidence of surrender; and the fire slack- 
ened until his voice could be heard. 

"Give us quarter," he cried hoarsely; "we are a 
wreck, and strike our flag." 

The firing then ceased; but, when the lieutenant of 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 89 

the " Congress " ordered a boat lowered in which to 
board the prize, the old boatswain came back with the 
report : 

" Boats all knocked to pieces, sir. Couldn't find one 
that would float." 

Accordingly the two vessels had to be slowly drawn 
together, and the boarding party reached the deck of 
the prize by clambering over a spar which served as 
a bridge. When they reached the prize, they found 
her decks covered with dead and wounded men. The 
slaughter had been terrible. Twenty-three men were 
killed, and thirty-one wounded. On the " Congress " 
were thirty, killed and wounded together. One of the 
wounded Americans was found lying with his back 
braced against the foot of the bowsprit, cheering for 
the victory, and crying : 

*' If they have broken my legs, my hands and heart 
are still whole." 

Throughout this sanguinary action both parties 
showed the greatest courage and determination. Two 
vessels of the two most perfectly organized regular 
navies in the world could not have been better handled, 
nor could they have more stubbornly contested for the 
victory. 

A class of armed vessels outside the limits of the 
regular navy, but very active and efficient in the service 
of the country, was the maritime forces of the Indi- 
vidual States. Before Congress had seen the necessity 
for a naval force, several of the colonies had been alive 
to the situation, and fitted out cruisers of their own. 
Even after the Revolution had developed into a war of 
the first magnitude, and after the colonies had assumed 
the title of States, and delegated to Congress the duty of 
providing for the common defence, they still continued 
to fit out their own men-of-war to protect their ports 
and act as convoys for their merchant fleets. Though 



90 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

vessels in this service seldom cruised far from the 
coast of their home colony, yet occasionally they met 
the vessels of the enemy, and many sharp actions were 
fought by them. 

Of all the actions fought by the State cruisers, the 
most hotly contested was that between the Pennsyl- 
vania cruiser " Hyder Ali," and the British sloop-of- 
war "General Monk." The "Hyder Ali" was a 
merchantman, bought by the State just as she was 
about departing on a voyage to the West Indies. She 
was "in no way calculated for a man-of-war; but the 
need was pressing, and she was pierced for eight ports 
on a side, and provided with a battery of six-pounders. 
The command of this vessel was given to Joshua Bar- 
ney, a young officer with an extensive experience of 
Yankee privateers and British prisons. 

Barney's instructions were, not to go to sea, but to 
patrol the Delaware River and Bay, and see that no 
privateer lay in wait for the merchant-vessels that 
cleared from the port of Philadelphia. In April, 1782, 
the " Hyder Ali " stood down Delaware Bay at the 
head of a large fleet of outward-bound merchantmen. 
When Cape May was reached, strong head-winds 
sprang up, and the whole fleet anchored to await more 
favorable weather before putting out to sea. While 
they lay at anchor, the " Hyder Ali " sighted a trio of 
British vessels, two ships and a brig, rounding the cape. 
Instantly Barney signalled his convoy to trip anchor 
and retreat, a signal which was promptly obeyed by 
all save one too daring craft, that tried to slip round 
the cape, and get to sea, but fell into the hands of 
the enemy. Soon the whole fleet, with the " Hyder 
Ali " bringing up the rear, fled up the bay. The British 
followed in hot pursuit. 

At a point half-way up the bay the pursuers parted; 
one of the ships, a frigate, cutting through a side chan- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 91 

nel in the hope of intercepting the fugitives. The 
other two pursuers, a privateer brig and a sloop-of- 
war, continued in the wake of the " Hyder AH." The 
brig proved herself a clipper, and soon came up with 
the American vessel, which promptly offered battle. 
The challenge was declined by the privateer, which fired 
a harmless broadside, and continued on up the bay. 
Barney let her pass, for he had determined to risk the 
dangers of an unequal combat with the sloop-of-war. 
This vessel came up rapidly; and as she drew near 
Barney luffed up suddenly, and let fly a broadside. 
This somewhat staggered the enemy, who had expected 
only a tame surrender; but she quickly recovered, and 
came boldly on. At this juncture Barney turned to 
his helmsman, and said: 

" Now, when I give the word, pay no attention to 
my order, but put the helm hard-a-starboard. Pay 
no heed to the actual command I may give you." 

The British vessel was then within half pistol-shot, 
and her forward guns were beginning to bear. From 
his station on the quarter-deck Barney shouted to his 
steersman in stentorian tones : 

" Port your helm. Hard-a-port." 

The order was clearly heard on board the enemy, 
and he prepared to manoeuvre his ship accordingly. 
But the steersman of the " Hyder Ali " remembered 
his instructions; and before the enemy discovered the 
ruse, the American ship lay athwart the other's bow, 
and the bowsprit of the enemy was caught in the 
" Hyder Ali's " rigging, giving the latter a raking posi- 
tion. Quickly the Yankee gunners seized the oppor- 
tunity. Not five miles away was a British frigate ready 
to rush to the assistance of her consort, and whatever 
was to be done by the bold lads of Pennsylvania had 
to be done with expedition. No cheer rose from their 
ranks; but with grim determination they worked at 



92 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the great guns, pouring in rapid and effective broad- 
sides. The explosions of the two batteries were like 
the deafening peals of thunder echoed and re-echoed 
in some mountain-gorge. Smoke hid the vessels from 
sight, and the riflemen in the tops could only occa- 
sionally catch sight of the figures of the enemy. The 
enemy had twenty guns to Barney's sixteen; but he 
was outmanoeuvred at the start, and this disadvantage 
he never overcame. Half an hour from the time of 
the opening of the battle, his flag was struck, and the 
Americans, with lusty cheers, took possession of their 
prize. There was no time for ceremony. The frigate 
had seen the conflict from afar, and was bearing down 
upon the two antagonists. So without even asking the 
name of the captured vessel, Barney hastily threw a 
prize crew aboard, ordered her to proceed to Philadel- 
phia, and himself remained behind to cover the retreat. 

Some hours later, having escaped the British frigate, 
the two vessels sailed up to a Philadelphia wharf. The 
scars of battle had been in no way healed: the tattered 
sails, the shattered hulls and bulwarks, the cordage 
hanging loosely from the masts, told the story of battle. 
The crowd that rushed to the wharf, and peered curi- 
ously about the decks of the two vessels, saw a ghastly 
and horrible sight. For the battle had been as san- 
guinary as it was spirited, and the dead still lay where 
they fell. On the British vessel, the " General Monk," 
lay the lifeless bodies of twenty men; while twenty-six 
wounded, whose blood stained the deck, lay groaning 
in the cockpit below. On the " Hyder Ali " were four 
killed and eleven wounded. 

This action, for steadiness and brilliancy, was not 
surpassed by any naval duel of the war of the Revolu- 
tion. By it the name of Joshua Barney was put upon 
a plane with those of the most eminent commanders 
in the regular navy; and had not the war speedily ter- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 93 

minated, he would have been granted a commission and 
a ship by the United States. 

While the chief naval events of the war for independ- 
ence have now been recounted, there still remain cer- 
tain incidents connected more or less closely with the 
war on the water, which deserve a passing mention. 
One of these is the curious desultory warfare carried 
on in and about New York Harbor by fishermen and 
longshoremen in whale-boats, dories, sharpies, and simi- 
lar small craft. 

From 1776 until the close of the war. New York 
City and the region bordering upon the harbor were 
occupied by the British. Provisions were needed for 
their support, and were brought from Connecticut and 
New Jersey in small sailing craft, chiefly whale-boats. 
These boats the patriots often intercepted, and des- 
perate encounters upon the water were frequent. Nor 
did the Yankee boatmen confine their attacks to the 
provision boats alone. In the summer of 1775 the 
British transport " Blue Mountain Valley " was cap- 
tured by a band of hardy Jerseymen, who concealed 
themselves in the holds of four small sail-boats until 
fairly alongside the enemy's vessel, when they swarmed 
out and drove the British from the dock of their vessel. 

No narrative of the events of the Revolution would 
be complete without some description of the floating 
prison-houses in which the British immured the hapless 
soldiers and sailors who fell into their hands. Of 
these the chief one was a dismasted hulk known as the 
" Old Jersey " prison-ship, and moored in Wallabout 
bay near New York City. No pen can adequately 
describe the horrors of this prison; but some extracts 
from the published recollections of men once imprisoned 
in her noisome hold will give some idea of the miserable 
fate of those condemned to be imprisoned on her. 

Thomas Andros, a sailor taken by the British with 



94 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the privateer *' Fair American," writes of the " Old 
Jersey " : 

This was an old sixty-four-gun ship, which, through age, had 
become unfit for further actual service. She was stripped of every 
spar and all her rigging. After a battle with a French fleet, 
her lion figure-head was taken away to repair another ship. No 
appearance of ornament was left, and nothing remained but an old 
unsightly rotten hulk; and doubtless no other ship in the British 
navy ever proved the means of the destruction of so many human 
beings. It is computed that no less than eleven thousand American 
seamen perished in her. When I first became an inmate of this 
abode of suffering, despair, and death, there were about four 
hundred prisoners on board ; but in a short time they 
amounted to twelve hundred. In a short time we had two 
hundred or more sick and dying lodged in the forepart of the lower 
gun-deck, where all the prisoners were confined at night. Utter 
derangement was a common symptom of yellow-fever ; and to 
increase the horror of the darkness that surrounded us (for we 
were allowed no light between decks), the voice of warning, 
would be heard, " Take heed to yourselves. There is a madman 
stalking through the ship with a knife in his hand." I sometimes 
found the man a corpse in the morning, by whose side I laid 
myself down at night. In the morning the hatchways were thrown 
open ; and we were allowed to ascend to the upper deck all at 
once, and remain on the upper deck all day. But the first object 
that met our view in the morning was an appalling spectacle, — a 
boat loaded with dead bodies, conveying them to the Long Island 
shore, where they were very slightly covered. 

Ebenezer Fox, another privateersman, has left his 
recollections of this dreadful prison. His description 
of the food upon which the unhappy prisoners were 
forced to subsist is interesting: 

Our bill of fare was as follows: on Sunday, one pound of biscuit, 
one pound of pork, and half a pint of pease ; Monday, one pound of 
biscuit, one pint of oatmeal, and two ounces of butter; Tuesday, 
one pound of biscuit, and two pounds of salt beef; Wednesday, one 
and a half pounds of flour, and two ounces of suet; Thursday was a 
repetition of Sunday's fare; Friday, of Monday's; and Saturday, of 
Tuesday's. 

If this food had been of good quality and properly cooked, as we 
had no labor to perform, it would have kept us comfortable, at 
least from suffering; but this was not the case. All our food 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 95 

appeared to be damaged. As for the pork, we were cheated out of 
it more than half the time; and when it was obtained, one would 
have judged from its motley hues, exhibiting the consistence and 
appearance of variegated fancy soap, that it was the flesh of the 
porpoise or sea-hog, and had been an inhabitant of the ocean rather 
than of the stye. The pease were generally damaged, and, from 
the imperfect manner in which they were cooked, were about as 
indigestible as grape-shot. The butter the reader will not suppose 
was the real " Goshen ; " and had it not been for its adhesive 
properties to hold together the particles of the biscuit, that had 
been so riddled by the worms as to lose all their attraction of 
cohesion, we should have considered it no desirable addition to our 
viands. 

With this chapter ends the narrative of the naval 
events of the war of the Revokition. It was not a 
great naval war, for the belligerent nations were not 
sufficiently well matched in naval strength. But it 
brought forth Paul Jones and more than one other 
brave and able commander. It established a new flag 
upon the seas, a flag that has ever since held an honor- 
able position among the insignia of the foremost nations 
of the earth. And in the war of the Revolution, as 
in every war in which the United States has taken part 
since, there was manifested the wonderful ability of 
the American people to rush into a conflict half-pre- 
pared, and gain daily in strength until the cause for 
which they fight is won. In 1776 that cause was lib- 
erty, and In Its behalf none fought more bravely than 
the lads who wore the blue jackets of the American 
navy. 



CHAPTER VII 

The Barbary Corsairs — America Finally Resists Piracy — Bainbridge 
and the " Philadelphia " — Decatur's Daring Exploit — An Attack 
on the Tripolitan Gunboats — The Fireship at Tripoli. 

It is a curious fact that after every war, except the 
recent one with Spain, the navy of the United States 
has been allowed to languish almost to the point of 
extinction. Particularly was this true when the Revolu- 
tion ended. For years thereafter the victorious colonies 
were loosely bound together in the futile Confederation 
which was without power to build or even maintain 
a navy. When the Constitution was adopted, and the 
United States of America came into being, George 
Washington in his first message urged the creation of 
a navy, but Congress permitted the recommendation 
to go unheeded. The nation was at peace with the 
world, and that maxim, now hackneyed, " In time of 
peace prepare for war," was then little observed. 

Yet there was reason enough for a fleet. Even under 
the Confederacy American merchant-vessels were mul- 
tiplying on the seas, flying the Stars and Stripes, which 
gave them no protection whatsoever. Along the Medi- 
terranean shore of Africa were ranged the piratical 
Barbary powers — Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis, Morocco — 
supported mainly by preying upon the peaceful com- 
merce of other nations. In 1785 several American 
vessels were captured and their people sold into slavery. 
Had this condition persisted until the organization of 
the Union, President Washington's recommendations 
might have been heeded, but about that time war broke 
out between Portugal and Algiers. The former block- 
aded the Straits of Gibraltar, so that the corsairs could 

96 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 97 

not escape, and for the time the commerce of the world 
was secure. 

But in 1793 peace was declared between the warring 
powers and the corsairs swarmed forth again. Amer- 
ican ships fell fast into their clutches. Two hundred 
American seamen were made slaves. Congress awoke. 
The frames of two frigates were laid down. And 
then — a treaty between the United States and the Dey 
of Algiers. And such a treaty ! It agreed to pay 
annual tribute for the right to navigate the high seas. 
Under it in all more than a million dollars was paid- 
enough in those days to build at least three war-vessels. 
Moreover, when once the tribute fell into arrears, the 
obsequious government presented the royal corsair with 
a fully equipped frigate to allay his wrath. 

Out of this tribute sprung some picturesque and mor- 
tifying incidents. Here is one: 

In May, 1800, it fell to the lot of Captain William 
Bainbridge, commanding the frigate " George Wash- 
ington," to carry the annual tribute to Algiers. On 
arriving there he was treated with contempt by the 
Dey, who demanded that he put the " Washington " 
at the service of Algiers, to carry her ambassador to 
Constantinople. " You pay me tribute, by which you 
become my slaves," said the Dey; "I have therefore 
a right to order you as I may think proper." Bain- 
bridge protested, but to no avail. He had anchored 
his frigate under the guns of the Dey's castle, and 
to disobey meant capture and slavery. Accordingly 
he complied, but dispatched a letter to the authorities 
at home saying: "I hope I may never again be sent 
to Algiers with tribute, unless I am authorized to de- 
liver it from the mouth of our cannon." 

Of course the other states of the Barbary Coast 
hungered for their share of the spoils. But in 1801 
the patience of the United States was exhausted, and 



98 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

a small fleet was dispatched to the Mediterranean to 
awe the pirates. Even then the orders were to avoid 
battle and to take no prizes. But this order was over- 
ruled in letter if not in spirit by Captain Sterrett of 
the little schooner " Enterprise," who, being fired upon 
by a Tripolitan ship, responded fiercely and forced her 
to strike. He could not take her as a prize, so dis- 
mantled her, threw cannon, small arms, and cutlasses 
into the sea, and sent her home with this message : 

Go tell the Bashaw of Tripoli, and the people of your country 
that in future they may expect only a tribute of powder and ball 
from the sailors of the United States. 

This was the one action in which any of the vessels 
of the first United States fleet sent to the Barbary 
Coast engaged. The lesson was not suflicient. Amer- 
ican white slaves were still bought and sold in the 
markets of Tripoli and Algiers, and an historian writ- 
ing in 1795 applauds the United States government 
for its humanity in providing each of these with a suit 
of clothes yearly. But the leaven of national pride, 
the sense of national honor in the young Union was 
gradually working, and in 1802 a true expedition of 
war was sent to the Mediterranean. The vessels were 
the " Chesapeake," thirty-eight; " Constellation," 
thirty-eight; "New York," thirty-six; "John Adams," 
twenty-eight; "Adams," twenty-eight; and "Enter- 
prise," twelve. All were under command of Com- 
modore Morris, who was later recalled and Commo- 
dore Preble commissioned in his place. Five more 
vessels accompanied him. 

For the first year the service of this fleet was moral 
rather than militant. There were merchant prizes 
taken, blockades maintained, and a daring descent made 
upon the shipping in the port of Tripoli by Lieutenant 
David D. Porter, first of a famous naval family. But 




HEROISM OF REUBEN JAMES 
(From a print of the time) 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 99 

for the two great events of the war with the Barbary 
powers we must look to the ensuing year. 

It was in October that the " Philadelphia," a ship 
of thirty-eight guns, under command of Captain Bain- 
bridge, was blockading the harbor of Tripoli, and in 
chasing a merchantman ran aground directly under the 
guns at the fortress. 

The Americans were then in a most dangerous pre- 
dicament. The sound of the firing had drawn a swarm 
of gunboats out of the harbor of Tripoli, and they 
were fast bearing down upon the helpless frigate. 
Every possible expedient was tried for the release of 
the ship, but to no avail. At last the gunboats, dis- 
covering her helpless condition, crowded so thick about 
her that there was no course open but to strike. And 
so, after flooding the magazine, throwing overboard 
all the small arms, and knocking holes in the bottom 
of the ship, Bainbridge reluctantly surrendered. 

Hardly had the flag touched the deck, when the gun- 
boats were alongside. If the Americans expected civil- 
ized treatment, they were sadly mistaken, for an un- 
disciplined rabble came swarming over the taffrail. 
Lockers and chests were broken open, store-rooms ran- 
sacked, officers and men stripped of all the articles of 
finery they were wearing. It was a scene of unbridled 
pillage, in which the TripoJitan officers were as active 
as their men. An officer being held fast in the grasp 
of two of the Tripolitans, a third would ransack his 
pockets, and strip him of any property they might 
covet. Swords, watches, jewels, and money were 
promptly confiscated by the captors; and they even 
ripped the epaulets from the shoulders of the officers' 
uniforms. No resistance was made, until one of the 
pilferers tried to tear from Bainbridge an ivory minia- 
ture of his young and beautiful wife. Wresting him- 
self free, the captai)i knocked down the vandal, and 



loo STORY OF OUR NAVY 

made so determined a resistance that his despoilers 
allowed him to keep the picture. 

When all the portable property was in the hands 
of the victors, the Americans were loaded into boats, 
and taken ashore. It was then late at night; but the 
captives were marched through the streets to the palace 
of the Bashaw, and exhibited to that functionary. 
After expressing great satisfaction at the capture, the 
Bashaw ordered the sailors thrown into prison, while 
the officers remained that night as his guests. He 
entertained them with an excellent supper, but the next 
morning they were shown to the gloomy prison apart- 
ments that were destined to be their home until the 
end of the war. 

A month later news of this disaster reached Preble. 
At once the Commodore, with his flagship " Constitu- 
tion " and the little " Enterprise," proceeded to take 
up the blockade of Tripoli. 

The vessels of the blockading squadron, from their 
station outside the bar, could see the captured " Phila- 
delphia " riding lightly at her moorings under the guns 
of the Tripolitan batteries. Her captors had care- 
fully repaired the injuries the Americans had Inflicted 
upon the vessel before surrendering. Her foremast 
was again in place, the holes in her bottom were 
plugged, the scars of battle were effaced, and she rode 
at anchor as pretty a frigate as ever delighted the eye 
of a tar. 

From his captivity Balnbrldge had written letters to 
Commodore Preble, with postscripts written in lemon- 
juice, and illegible save when the sheet of paper was 
exposed to the heat. In these postscripts he urged the 
destruction of the " Philadelphia." 

The suggestion appealed to Preble, and after con- 
sultation with Lieutenant Stephen Decatur this plan 
was evolved. On the way to the blockading: station 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS loi 

a ketch had been captured laden with female slaves — 
a gift from the Bashaw to the Sultan. The slaves were 
set free, but the ketch was held as a prize. The plan 
now was to convert the captured ketch into a man- 
of-war, man her with volunteers, and with her attempt 
the perilous adventure of the destruction of the " Phila- 
delphia." 

The project once broached was quickly carried into 
effect. The ketch was taken into the service, and named 
the " Intrepid." News of the expedition spread 
throughout the squadron, and many officers eagerly 
volunteered their services. When the time was near 
at hand, Decatur called the crew of the " Enterprise " 
together, told them of the plan of the proposed ex- 
pedition, pointed out its dangers, and called for volun- 
teers. Every man and boy on the vessel stepped for- 
ward and begged to be taken. Decatur chose sixty- 
tv/o picked men, and was about to leave the deck, 
when his steps were arrested by a young boy who 
beggecl hard to be taken. 

" Why do you want to go, Jack? " asked the com- 
modore. 

" Well, sir," said Jack, " you see, I'd kinder like to 
see the country." 

The oddity of the boy's reason struck Decatur's 
fancy, and he told Jack to report with the rest. 

On the way, Decatur gave his forces careful instruc- 
tions as to the method of attack. The Americans 
were divided Into several boarding parties, each with 
its own officer and work. One party was to keep pos- 
session of the upper deck, another was to carry the 
gun-deck, a third should drive the enemy from the. 
steerage, and so on. All were to carry pistols in their 
belts; but the fighting, as far as possible, was to be 
done with cutlasses, so that no noise might alarm the 
enemy in the batteries, and the vessels in the port. 



I02 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

One party was to hover near the " Philadelphia " m 
a light boat, and kill all Tripolitans who might try to 
escape to the shore by swimming. The watchword 
for the night was " Philadelphia." 

About noon, the " Intrepid " came in sight of the 
towers of Tripoli. Both the ketch and the " Siren " 
had been so disguised that the enemy could not recog- 
nize them, and they therefore stood boldly for the 
harbor. As the wind was fresh, Decatur saw that 
he was likely to make port before night; and he there- 
fore dragged a cable and a number of buckets astern 
to lessen his speed, fearing to take in sail, lest the 
suspicions of the enemy should be aroused. 

When within about five miles of the town, the 
" Philadelphia " became visible. She floated lightly 
at her anchorage under the guns of two heavy bat- 
teries. Behind her lay moored two Tripolitan cruisers, 
and near by was a fleet of gunboats. It was a powerful 
stronghold Into which the Yankee blue-jackets were 
about to carry the torch. 

On the decks of the " Intrepid " but twelve men 
were visible. The rest lay flat on the deck, in the 
shadow of the bulwarks or weather-boards. Her 
course was laid straight for the bow of the frigate, 
which she was to foul. When within a short distance, 
a hail came from the " Philadelphia." In response, 
the pilot of the ketch answered, that the ketch was a 
coaster from Malta, that she had lost her anchors in 
the late gale, and had been nearly wrecked, and that 
she now asked permission to ride by the frigate during 
the night. The people on the frigate were wholly 
■deceived, and sent out ropes to the ketch, allowing one 
of the boats of the " Intrepid " to make a line fast to 
the frigate. The ends of the ropes on the ketch were 
passed to the hidden men, who pulled lustily upon 
them, thus bringing the little craft alongside the frigate. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 103 

But, as she came into clearer view, the suspicions of 
the Tripolitans were aroused; and when at last the 
anchors of the " Intrepid " were seen hanging in their 
places at the cat-heads, the Tripolitans cried out that 
they had been deceived, and warned the strangers to 
keep off. At the same moment the cry, " Americanos ! 
Americanos!" rang through the ship, and the alarm 
was given. 

By this time the ketch was fast to the frigate. " Fol- 
low me, lads," cried Decatur, and sprang for the chain- 
plates of the " Philadelphia." Clinging there, he re- 
newed his order to board; and the men sprang to their 
feet, and were soon clambering on board the frigate. 
Lieutenant Morris first trod the deck of the " Philadel- 
phia," Decatur followed close after, and then the stream 
of men over the rail and through the open ports was 
constant. Complete as was the surprise, the entire 
absence of any resistance was astonishing. Few of the 
Turks had weapons in their hands, and those who had 
fled before the advancing Americans. On all sides 
the splashing of water told that the affrighted Turks 
were trying to make their escape that way. In ten 
minutes Decatur and his men had complete possession 
of the ship. 

The combustibles were brought from the ketch, and 
piled about the frigate, and lighted. So quickly was 
the work done, and so rapidly did the flames spread, 
that the people who lit the fires in the store-rooms and 
cockpit had scarce time to get on deck before their 
retreat was cut off by the flames. Before the ketch 
could be cast off from the sides of the frigate, the 
flames came pouring out of the portholes, and flaming 
sparks fell aboard the smaller vessel, so that the am- 
munition which lay piled amidships was in grave danger 
of being exploded. Axes and cutlasses v/ere swung 
with a will; and soon the bonds which held the two 



I04 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

vessels together were cut, and the ketch was pushed off. 
Then the blue-jackets bent to their sweeps, and soon 
the " Intrepid " was under good headway. 

" Now, lads," cried Decatur, " give them three 
cheers." 

And the jackies responded with ringing cheers, that 
mingled with the roar of the flames that now had the 
frame of the " Philadelphia " in their control. Then 
they grasped their sweeps again, and the little vessel 
glided away through a hail of grape and round shot 
from the Tripolitan batteries and men-of-war. Though 
the whistle of the missiles was incessant, and the splash 
of round-shot striking the water could be heard on 
every side, no one in the boat was hurt; and the only 
shot that touched the ketch went harmlessly through 
her mainsail. As they pulled away, they saw the flames 
catch the rigging of the " Philadelphia," and run high 
up the masts. Then the hatchways were burst open, 
and great gusts of flame leaped out. The shotted 
guns of the frigate were discharged in quick succession; 
one battery sending its iron messengers into the streets 
of Tripoli, while the guns on the other side bore upon 
Fort English. The angry glare of the flames, and 
the flash of the cannon, lighted up the bay; while the 
thunders of the cannonade and the cries of the Tripoli- 
tans told of the storm that was raging. 

Not a man had been lost in the whole affair. As 
the expedition had been perfect in conception, so it was 
perfect in execution. The adventure became the talk 
of all Europe. Lord Nelson, England's greatest ad- 
miral, said of it: " It was the most bold and daring 
act of the ages." And when the news reached the 
United States, Decatur, despite his youth, was made a 
captain. 

The great name of the war with Tripoli is that of 
Stephen Decatur. The story of the events with which 




By courlesy of Hon. Thm. Siitro CoryriKlil, lb9s, by E.UvarJ Alor: 

BURNING OF THE FRIGATE "PHILADELPHIA" 

(In the Harbor of Tripoli, February I 6, 1804) 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 105 

he was identified, and one other, which will close this 
chapter, is in effect the story of the whole war. 

In August, 1804, Preble determined to change the 
blockade of Tripoli into a spirited attack upon the 
town and its defences. The attack was ineffective. 
Wooden ships proved no match for stone walls. There 
is, therefore, no need to go into detail as to the tactics 
adopted, but some of the picturesque incidents will be 
of interest. 

Decatur's part in the enterprise was to seek to cap- 
ture nine Tripolitan gunboats that formed part of the 
defensive force of the harbor. He had under his 
command four, but this slender force he led directly 
under the enemy's guns. 

Fearfully were the Americans outnumbered. They 
could hope for no help from their friends in the men- 
of-war in the rear. They were hemmed in on all 
sides by hostile gunboats, more strongly manned, and 
heavier in metal, than they. They were outnumbered 
three to one; for gunboat No. 3, which had belonged 
to Decatur's division, had drawn out of the fight in 
obedience to a signal for recall, which had been dis- 
played by mistake on the " Constitution." Then De- 
catur displayed his desperate courage. Signalling to 
his companions to close with their adversaries and 
board, he laid his vessel alongside the nearest gunboat; 
and in a trice every American of the crew was swarm- 
ing over the enemy's bulwarks. Taken by surprise, 
the Turks retreated. The gunboat was divided down 
the centre by a long, narrow hatchway; and as the 
Yankees came tumbling over the bulwarks, the Turks 
retreated to the farther side. This gave Decatur time 
to rally his men; and, dividing them into two parties, 
he sent one party around by the stern of the boat, 
while he led the others around the bow. The Turks 
were dazed by the suddenness of the attack, and cowed 



io6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

by the fearful effect of the Americans' last volley before 
boarding. Their captain lay dead, with fourteen bul- 
lets in his body. Many of the officers were wounded, 
and all the survivors were penned into a narrow space 
by the two parties of blue-jackets. The contest was 
short. Hampered by lack of room in which to wield 
their weapons, the Turks were shot down or bayoneted. 
Many leaped over the gunwale into the sea; many were 
thrown into the open hatchway; and the remnant, 
throwing down their arms, pleaded piteously for quar- 
ter. Decatur had no time to exult in his victory. Has- 
tily securing his prisoners below decks, and making his 
prize fast to his own vessel, he bore down upon the 
Tripolitan next to leeward. 

Meanwhile Decatur had been informed that his 
brother had been treacherously shot and killed by the 
captain of a Tripolitan gunboat after the flag had been 
struck. 

Decatur's grief for the death of his brother gave 
way, for the time, to his anger on account of the base 
treachery by which the victim met his death. Casting 
prudence to the winds, he turned his boat's prow to- 
wards the gunboat of the murderer, and, urging on 
his rowers, soon laid the enemy aboard. Cutlass in 
hand, Decatur was first on the deck of the enemy. 
Behind him followed close Lieutenant Macdonough 
and nine blue-jackets. Nearly forty Turks were ready 
to receive the boarders. As the boarders came over 
the rail, they fired their pistols at the enemy, and then 
sprang down, cutlass in hand. The Turks outnum- 
bered them five to one; but the Americans rallied in a 
bunch, and dealt lusty blows right and left. At last, 
Decatur singled out a man whom he felt sure was the 
commander, and the murderer of his brother. He 
was a man of gigantic frame; his head covered with 
a scarlet cap, his face half hidden by a bristly black 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 107 

beard. He was armed with a heavy boarding-pike, 
with which he made a fierce lunge at Decatur. The 
American parried the blow, and made a stroke at the 
pike, hoping to cut off its point. But the force of the 
blow injured the Tripolitan's weapon not a whit, while 
Decatur's cutlass broke short off at the hilt. With a 
lyell of triumph the Turk lunged again. Decatur 
threw up his arm, and partially avoided the thrust; so 
that the pike pierced his breast, but inflicted only a 
slight wound. Grappling the weapon, Decatur tore it 
from the wound, wrested it from the Turk, and' made 
a lunge at him, which he avoided. The combatants 
then clinched and fell to the deck, fiercely struggling for 
life and death. About them fought their followers, 
who strove to aid their respective commanders. Sud- 
denly a Tripolitan officer, who had fought his way 
to a place above the heads of the two officers, aimed 
a blow at the head of Decatur. His victim was power- 
less to guard himself. One American sailor only was 
at hand. This was Reuben James, a young man whose 
desperate fighting had already cost him wounds in 
both arms, so that he could not lift a hand to save his 
commander. But, though thus desperately wounded, 
James had yet one offering to lay before his captain — 
his life. And he showed himself willing to make this 
last and greatest sacrifice, by thrusting his head into 
the path of the descending scimitar, and taking upon 
his own skull the blow intended for Decatur. The 
hero fell bleeding to the deck; a pistol-shot from an 
American ended the career of the Turk, and Decatur 
was left to struggle with his adversary upon the deck. 
But by this time the great strength of the Turkish 
captain was beginning to tell in the death-struggle. His 
right arm was clasped like an iron band around the 
American captain, while with his left hand he drew 
from his belt a short yataghan, which he was about to 



io8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

plunge Into the throat of his foe. Decatur lay on 
his side, with his eyes fixed upon the face of his foe. 
He saw the look of triumph flash in the eyes of the 
Turk; he saw the gleaming steel of the yataghan as 
It was drawn from Its sheath. Mustering all his 
strength, he writhed In the grasp of his burly foe. He 
wrested his left arm clear, and caught the Turk's wrist 
just as the fatal blow was falling; then with his right 
hand he drew from his pocket a small pistol. Press- 
ing this tightly against the back of his enemy, he fired. 
The ball passed through the body of the Turk, and 
lodged In Decatur's clothing. A moment later the 
Tripolltan's hold relaxed, and he fell back dead; while 
Decatur, covered with his own blood and that of his 
foe, rose to his feet, and stood amidst the pile of dead 
and wounded men that had gathered during the struggle 
around the battling chiefs. 

The fall of their captain disheartened the Tripoli- 
tans, and they speedily threw down their arms. The 
prize was then towed out of the line of battle; and, 
as by this time the American gunboats were drawing 
off, Decatur took his prizes Into the shelter of the 
flagship. 

When the squadron had made an ofling, Preble 
hoisted a signal for the commanders to come aboard 
the flagship, and make their reports. He was sorely 
disappointed in the outcome of the fray, and little in- 
clined to recognize the conspicuous Instances of indi- 
vidual gallantry shown by his oflicers. He had set 
his heart upon capturing the entire fleet of nine Tripoli- 
tan gunboats, and the escape of six of them had roused 
his naturally irascible disposition to fury. As he 
stalked his quarter-deck, morose and silent, Decatur 
came aboard. The young officer still wore the bloody, 
smoke-begrimed uniform In which he had grappled with 
the Turk, his face was begrimed with powder, his 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 109 

hands and breast covered with blood. As he walked 
to the quarter-deck, he was the centre of observation 
of all on the flagship. Stepping up to the commodore, 
he said quietly: 

" Well, commodore, I have brought you out three 
of the gunboats." 

Preble turned upon him fiercely, seized him with 
both hands by the collar, and shaking him like a school- 
boy, snarled out: 

" Ay, sir, why did you not bring me more? " 

The blood rushed to Decatur's face. The insult 
was more than he could bear. His hand sought his 
dagger, but the commodore had left the quarter-deck. 
Turning on his heel, the outraged officer walked to 
the side, and called his boat, determined to leave the 
ship at once. But the officers crowded about him, 
begging him to be calm, and reminding him of the 
notoriously quick temper of the commodore. While 
they talked, there came a cabin steward with a mes- 
sage : " The commodore wishes to see Captain De- 
catur below." Decatur hesitated a moment, then 
obeyed. Some time passed, but he did not reappear 
on deck. The officers became anxious, and at last, 
upon some pretext, one sought the commodore's cabin. 
There he found Preble and Decatur, sitting together, 
friendly, but both silent, and In tears. The apology 
had been made and accepted. 

There is one humble actor in the first attack upon 
Tripoli whom we cannot abandon without a word. 
This is Reuben James. That heroic young sailor 
quickly recovered from the bad wound he received when 
he interposed his own head to save his commander's 
life. One day Decatur called him aft, and publicly 
asked him what could be done to reward him for his 
unselfish heroism. The sailor was embarrassed and 
nonplussed. He rolled his quid of tobacco in his 



no STORY OF OUR NAVY 

mouth, and scratched his head, without replying. His 
shipmates were eager with advice. " Double pay, Jack: 
the old man will refuse you nothing "; "a boatswain's 
berth " ; "a pocketful of money and shore leave," were 
among the suggestions. But James put them aside. 
He had decided. 

" If you please, sir," said he, " let somebody else 
hand out the hammocks to the men when they are 
piped down. That is a sort of business that I don't 
exactly like." 

The boon was granted; and ever afterwards, when 
the crew was piped to stow away hammocks, Reuben 
James sauntered about the decks with his hands in his 
pockets, the very personification of elegant leisure. 

With one last instance of American gallantry on the 
ocean this survey of the events of the war with Tripoli 
may be closed. Commodore Preble, and the officers 
under his command, had about reached the conclusion 
that Tripoli could not be reduced by bombardment. 
Accordingly they cast about for some new method of 
attack. The plan that was finally adopted proved 
unfortunate in this Instance, just as similar schemes for 
the reduction of fortresses have proved futile through- 
out all history. Briefly stated, the plan was to send 
a fire-ship, or rather a floating mine. Into the harbor, 
to explode before the walls of the fortress, and in the 
midst of the enemy's cruisers. 

The ketch " Intrepid," which had carried Decatur 
and his daring followers out of the harbor of Tripoli, 
leaving the " Philadelphia " burning behind them, was 
still with the fleet. This vessel was chosen, and with 
all possible speed was converted into an " Infernal," 
or floating mine. " A small room, or magazine, had 
been planked up in the hold of the ketch, just forward 
of her principal mast," writes Fenimore Cooper. 
" Communicating with this magazine was a trunk, or 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS iii 

tube, that led aft to another room filled with com- 
bustibles. In the planked room, or magazine, were 
placed one hundred barrels of gunpowder in bulk; and 
on the deck, immediately above the powder, were laid 
fifty thirteen-and-a-half-inch shells, and one hundred 
nine-inch shells, with a large quantity of shot, pieces 
of kentledge, and fragments of iron of different sorts. 
A train was laid in the trunk, or tube, and fuses were 
attached in the proper manner. In addition to this 
arrangement, the other small room mentioned was filled 
with splinters and light wood, which, besides firing the 
train, were to keep the enemy from boarding, as the 
flames would be apt to induce them to apprehend an 
immediate explosion." 

Such was the engine of death prepared. The plan 
of operations was simply to put a picked crew on this 
floating volcano, choose a dark night, take the " infer- 
nal " into the heart of the enemy's squadron, fire it, 
and let the crew escape in boats as best they might. 

The leadership of this desperate enterprise was in- 
trusted to Lieutenant Richard Somers. Indeed, it is 
probable that the idea itself originated with him, for 
a commanding ofiicer would be little likely to assign 
a subordinate a duty so hazardous. Moreover, there 
existed between Decatur and Somers a generous rivalry. 
Each strove to surpass the other; and since Decatur's 
exploit with the *' Philadelphia," Somers had been seek- 
ing an opportunity to win equal distinction. It is 
generally believed, that, having conceived the idea of 
the " infernal," he suggested it to Preble, and claimed 
for himself the right to execute it. 

It was September 4th, the day following the last 
attack upon Tripoli. The sky was overcast and lower- 
ing, and gave promise of a dark night. Fully con- 
vinced that the time for action was at hand, Somers 
called together the handful of brave fellows who were 



112 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

to follow him, and briefly addressed them. He told 
them he wished no man to go with him who did not 
prefer being blown up to being captured. For his 
part, he would much prefer such a fate, and he wished 
his followers to agree with him. For answer the brave 
fellows gave three cheers, and crowded round him, each 
asking to be selected to apply the match. 

It was after dusk when the devoted adventurers 
boarded the powder-laden ketch, as she lay tossing at 
her anchorage. Shortly after they had taken posses- 
sion, a boat came alongside with Decatur and Lieu- 
tenant Stewart in the stern-sheets. The officers greeted 
their comrades with some emotion. They were all 
about of an age, followed one loved profession, and 
each had given proofs of his daring. When the time 
came for them to part, the leave-taking was serious, 
but tranquil. Somers took from his finger a ring, and, 
breaking it into four pieces, gave one to each of his 
friends. Then with hearty handshakings, and good 
wishes for success, Decatur and Stewart left their 
friends. 

As far as the harbor's mouth, she was accompanied 
by the " Argus," the " Vixen," and the " Nautilus." 
There they left her, and she pursued her way alone. 
It was a calm, foggy night. A few stars could be 
seen glimmering through the haze, and a light breeze 
ruffled the water, and wafted the sloop gently along 
her course. From the three vessels that waited out- 
side the harbor's mouth, eager watchers with night- 
glasses kept their gaze riveted upon the spectral form 
of the ketch, as she slowly receded from their sight. 
Fainter and fainter grew the outline of her sails, until 
at last they were lost to sight altogether. Then fitful 
flashes from the enemy's batteries, and the harsh thun- 
der of the cannon, told that she had been sighted by 
the foe. The anxious watchers paced their decks with 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 113 

bated breath. 1 hough no enemy was near to hear 
them, they spoke In Avhispers. The shadow of a great 
awe, the weight of some great calamity, seemed crush- 
ing them. 

"What was that?" 

All started at the abrupt exclamation. Through the 
haze a glimmering light had been seen to move rapidly 
along the surface of the water, as though a lantern 
were being carried along a deck. Suddenly it dis- 
appeared, as though dropped down a hatchway. A 
few seconds passed, — seconds that seemed like hours. 
Then there shot up into the sky a dazzling jet of fire. 
A roar like that of a huge volcano shook earth and 
sea. The vessels trembled at their moorings. The 
concussion of the air threw men upon the decks. Then 
the mast of the ketch, with its sail blazing, was seen 
to rise straight into the air, and fall back. Bombs with 
burning fuses flew in every direction. The distant 
sound of heavy bodies falling into the water and on 
the rocks was heard. Then all was still. Even the 
Tripolitan batteries were silent. 

For a moment a great sorrow fell upon the Amer- 
icans. Then came the thought that Somers and his 
brave men might have left the ketch before the explo- 
sion. All listened for approaching oars. Minutes 
lengthened into hours, and still no sound was heard. 
Men hung from the sides of the vessels, with their 
ears to the water, in the hope of catching the sound 
of the coming boats. But all was in vain. Day broke; 
the shattered wreck of the " Intrepid " could be seen 
within the harbor, and near it two injured Tripolitan 
gunboats. But of Somers and his brave fellows no 
trace could be seen, nor were they ever again beheld 
by their companions. 

It may be said that this episode terminated the war 
with Tripoli. Thereafter it was but a series of block- 



114 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ades and diplomatic negotiations. Commodore Barron 
relieved Preble, and maintained the blockade, without 
any offensive operations, until peace was signed in June, 
1805. The conditions of that peace cannot be too 
harshly criticised. By it the United States paid sixty 
thousand dollars for American prisoners in the hands 
of the Bashaw, thus yielding to demands for ransom 
which no civilized nation should for a moment have 
considered. The concession was all the more unnec- 
essary, because a native force of insurrectionists, re- 
inforced by a few Americans, was marching upon 
Tripoli from the rear, and would have soon brought 
the Bashaw to terms. But it was not the part of the 
navy to negotiate the treaty. That rested with the 
civilians. The duty of the blue-jackets had been to 
fight for their country's honor; and that they had dis- 
charged this duty well, no reader of these pages can 
deny. 



CHAPTER VIII 

Tlie Quasi-war with France — " Constellation " and " Insurgente " — 
Decatur Once More — " Little Jarvis," a Boy Hero. 

There has been no more curious episode in the history 
of the United States, or perhaps in all history of mod- 
ern times, than the spluttering war on the sea with 
the French in the years 1 798-1 800. The two coun- 
tries were at peace. Their peoples expressed and felt 
for each other the liveliest friendship, even affection. 
Franklin had not been forgotten in France, nor La- 
fayette in America. The two governments were amica- 
ble. A French minister was at Philadelphia; an Amer- 
ican at Versailles. And yet on the ocean French and 
American ships were fighting pitched and sanguinary 
battles, in which the defeated one, instead of being 
made a prize, refitted and sailed away to some friendly 
port while the victor expressed polite regret for the 
occurrence. 

It all grew out of the war between France and Eng- 
land, with the English insistence upon impressing Amer- 
ican seamen as the irritating cause. That practice, 
which, as we have seen, had so much to do with bring- 
ing on the war of the Revolution, had been revived 
with increased vigor by the British. France thought 
it saw in this an opportunity to force the young United 
States to become its ally against the Island Nation. 

Accordingly an order was issued to all French men- 
of-war to treat American vessels exactly as the Amer- 
icans permitted themselves to be treated by the British. 
So if a British man-of-war pressed three men from 
an American brig, the first French man-of-war to detect 
the fact would press three more. Thus between the 

115 



ii6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

upper and nether millstones was the growing commerce 
of the young nation ground. But in 1799 the patience 
of the American government was exhausted, and such 
ships as were in commission were sent to inflict reprisals 
upon the French privateers. But all the while there 
was no declaration of war. 

The war was very real, however, even without any 
declaration, as may well be judged from the story of 
some typical actions. The absence of a formal declara- 
tion of war made many French privateers assume an 
injured air, on being captured by United States ships. 
With a Frenchman of this sort, Stephen Decatur the 
younger had an experience early in his naval career. 

This occurred in February, 1799. The frigate 
" United States " was cruising near Martinique in that 
year, and to her young Decatur was attached as a sub- 
lieutenant. One morning a French privateer was 
sighted, and the frigate set out in hot pursuit. The 
privateer took the alarm quickly, and crowded on all 
sail, until her long, narrow hull slipped through the 
waves like a fish. The breeze was fresh, and the 
chase an exciting one; but gradually the immense spread 
of the frigate's canvas began to tell, and she rapidly 
overhauled the fugitive. The French captain was 
plucky, and even desperate, in his attempt to escape; 
for, seeing that he was about to be overhauled, he re- 
sorted to the expedient of a fox chased by hounds, and 
doubled, turning short to windward, and running right 
under the guns of the frigate. The move was a bold 
one, and might well have succeeded, had it not been 
for the good marksmanship of a gunner on the frigate, 
who promptly sent a twenty-four-pound shot (the only 
one fired in the affair) straight through the hull of the 
privateer, between wind and water. In an instant all 
was confusion on the French vessel. The water poured 
into her hold through the hole cut by the shot; and 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 117 

the hasty lowering of her sails, and the frantic howls 
for succor from the crew, told the people of the 
" United States " that their chase was at an end. The 
boats of the frigate were quickly lowered, and Decatur 
went in one as officer in command. When he reached 
the sinking ship, he found a scene too ludicrous to be 
pathetic. Along the rail of the vessel, from bow to 
stern, the Frenchmen were perched like birds. Many 
had stripped off all their clothes, in order to be pre- 
pared to swim; and from all arose a medley of plaintive 
cries for help, and curses on that unlucky shot. By 
skilful management of the boats, all were saved; and 
it happened that Decatur pulled into his own boat the 
captain of the sinking vessel. 

Brushing the salt water out of his eyes, this worthy 
expressed great surprise that he had been fired upon 
by a vessel bearing the United States flag. 

" Ees eet that that ees a sheep of les Etats-Unis? " 
he inquired, in the broken English that four years of 
cruising against Americans had enabled him to pick up. 

" It is," responded Decatur. 

" I am indeed sairprised. I had not thought that 
les Etats-Unis had the war with La Republique Fran- 
gaise." 

" No, sir," responded Decatur, thoroughly provoked; 
" but you knew that the French Republic was at war 
with the United States, that you were taking our 
merchant-vessels every day, and crowding our country- 
men into prison at Basseterre to die like sheep." 

A later and a fiercer contest occurred between the 
" Constellation " and the " Insurgente." The Amer- 
ican ship was cruising in the West Indies and encoun- 
tered a man-of-war which failed to show her colors. 
Signals were set, but no answering signal came. At 
last, after long " jockeying," the stranger showed 
French colors, and the battle was on ! This, too, when 



ii8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

no war existed between the United States and France. 
The challenging colors were raised by the Frenchman. 
On the " Constellation " the challenge aroused uni- 
versal enthusiasm. For the first time since the Revolu- 
tion, the gallant defenders of the Stars and Stripes were 
to have an opportunity to try their strength with a 
hostile man-of-war. The enemy seemed no less ready 
for the conflict, and waited gallantly for the " Con- 
stellation " to come down to closer quarters. From 
both ships came the roll of the drums and the shrill 
pipings of the bo's'n's whistle, as the men were called 
to quarters. Then all became still, and the two frig- 
ates bore down upon each other. Neither antagonist 
was hasty about opening fire, and the report of the 
first gun came from the Yankee when she had come 
into point-blank range. Then began the thunderous 
broadsides, that soon enveloped the hulls of the two 
ships in dense gray smoke; so that, to an observer at 
a little distance, all that could be seen of the fight was 
the tapering masts and yard-arms, above the smoke, 
crowded with sailors repairing damages, and nimble 
young midshipmen shrilly ordering about the grizzled 
seamen, and now and again taking a crack at the enemy 
with pistol or musket, by way of recreation. In the 
foretop of the " Constellation " was stationed young 
David Porter, who in that trying moment showed the 
result of his hard schooling in the merchant-service, of 
which we have spoken. By the rapid fire of the enemy, 
the foretopmast was badly cut, and there was great 
danger that it might go by the board. Porter hailed 
the deck several times for instructions, but, finding that 
his voice could not be heard above the roar of battle, 
determined to act upon his own responsibility, and ac- 
cordingly cut away the sails, lowered the yards, and, 
by relieving the injured spar of all strain, prevented 
its falling. In the meantime the battle raged fiercely 




COMMODORE STEPHEN DECATUR 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 119 

below. The American frigate was more powerful in 
her armament, and better handled, than the French- 
man. Her guns were handled with deliberation, and 
the aim of the gunners was sure and deadly; while the 
shot from the enemy went hurtling through the rigging 
of the " Constellation," doing but little damage. The 
decks of the Frenchman were covered with dead and 
wounded, and at last two raking broadsides from the 
American frigate ended the conflict. When the van- 
quished ship was boarded, she proved to be the " In- 
surgente," the same frigate that had captured the " Re- 
taliation " some months before. Her loss in this en- 
gagement amounted to twenty-nine killed and forty-one 
wounded, while the cockpit of the " Constellation " was 
tenanted by but three wounded men ; and but one Amer- 
ican had lost his life, he having been killed by an 
officer, for cowardice. Both ships were badly cut up 
in the engagement. 

The news of this victory was received with great 
rejoicing in the United States, and was celebrated with 
cannon-firing and the ringing of bells. At Boston, the 
fourth Sunday in March was set for a day of general 
rejoicing; and on that day huge crowds gathered in 
State Street, and after salutes had been fired, and the 
city's bells pealed, the people, at a given signal, joined 
in three mighty cheers, that fairly shook the surround- 
ing houses, for Truxton, the " Constellation," the blue- 
jackets, and the success of the wooden walls of America. 

Even after the " Insurgente " had struck her flag, 
the tars of the " Constellation " found they had an 
elephant on their hands. The work of transferring 
the prisoners was begun, and actively prosecuted; but, 
when night fell, there were still nearly two hundred 
Frenchmen on the prize. The wind was rising fast, 
and the long rollers of the Atlantic were being lashed 
into foaming breakers by the rising gale. It was 



I20 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

hazardous for the two vessels to continue near each 
other; and Lieutenant Rodgers, with Midshipman Por- 
ter and eleven men, was detailed to take charge of the 
prize, and bring her into port. When the officers 
boarded the prize, they found that they had indeed a 
desperate undertaking before them. It was difficult 
enough for thirteen men to handle the great ship, with- 
out having to keep in subjection one hundred and sev- 
enty-three captives. To add to the danger, the grat- 
ings had been thrown overboard, and there was no 
way of confining the captives in the hold. A careful 
search for handcuffs resulted only in failure. But 
Rodgers was a man of decision, and Porter, though 
but a boy, was bold and determined; and between them 
they solved the problem. The prisoners were ordered 
below; and a sentinel was placed at each hatchway, 
with orders to shoot the first man who should attempt 
to come on deck. Howitzers loaded with grape were 
trained upon the hatchway, for use in case of an organ- 
ized movement of the prisoners. For three days the 
officers sustained this fearful strain, without a mo- 
ment's sleep; but their labors were finally crowned 
by successfully bringing the ship and prisoners into 
St. Kitts. 

In the second pitched battle of the war, the " Con- 
stellation " was again the American combatant; but this 
time, though the fight was a glorious one, it did not 
terminate so fortunately for the American ship. It 
was on the ist of February, 1800, that the gallant 
frigate, under the same commander, was cruising about 
her old hunting-grounds, near Guadaloupe. A sail 
was sighted, which, after a careful examination through 
his marine-glass. Commodore Truxton pronounced to 
be an English merchantman. As an Invitation to the 
stranger to approach, English colors were hoisted on 
the " Constellation," but had only the effect of causing 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 121 

the stranger to sheer off; for she was, indeed, a French 
war-vessel. Perplexed by the actions of the mysterious 
ship, the " Constellation " gave chase, and soon came 
near enough to see that she had caught a Tartar; for 
the vessel was the French frigate " La Vengeance," 
mounting fifty-two guns. Although a more powerful 
vessel than the American, she continued her flight; 
while the gallant Truxton, caring nothing for the odds 
against him, kept on in hot pursuit. All the remainder 
of that day, and until noon of the next, the chase 
continued, with but little change in the position of the 
ships. " A stern chase is a long chase," thought the 
jackies on the " Constellation "; but they were not dis- 
couraged, and only crowded on the more sail. On the 
afternoon of the second day, the American began to 
gain rapidly; and by eight at night the two ships were 
within speaking distance of each other. Truxton 
mounted the rail, and shouted through a speaking-trum- 
pet, "What ship is that?" The only answer was a 
shot from the stern-port of the Frenchman, and the 
fight was opened. 

It was then growing dark, though the faint glow 
of the long tropic twilight still lingered on the western 
horizon. Above the towering masts of the two great 
frigates, the stars gleamed with a brilliancy seldom 
seen in more northern latitudes. As the ships rushed 
through the water, the waves broke against the bows, 
and fell back in masses of phosphorescent light; while 
the wakes of the vessels could be traced far back into 
the darkness, — two parallel paths of light, that glowed 
and sparkled like the milky way that spanned the starry 
sky above. 

Side by side the two frigates ploughed through the 
water. The creaking of their cordage, and the rush- 
ing of the wind through the rigging, mingled with the 
thunder of the cannonade, which, though slow, and 



122 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

made up of single reports, when the " Constellation " 
was confined to the use of her bow-chasers, soon rose 
to thunderous broadsides as the two ships came side to 
side. As the twilight died away, the two contestants 
were enveloped in almost total darkness, save for the 
fitful flashes of the cannon, and the red glare of the 
battle-lanterns that hung from the shrouds. The gun- 
ners had for a target nothing but a black, shapeless 
mass, that could be seen rushing through the waves 
some hundreds of yards away. But this did not pre- 
vent fearful execution being done on both sides. For 
five hours the two ships kept up the running fight. The 
ponderous eighteen and forty-two-pound shot of the 
enemy crashed into the "Constellation," or swept her 
decks, doing dreadful damage. The deck was strewn 
with dead and dying men, and the surgeons down In 
the cockpit soon had their tables full of moaning suf- 
ferers. No one could tell what might be the condition 
of " La Vengeance "; but her regular fire told that she 
was in no wise disabled. At one o'clock in the morn- 
ing, the sound of her guns seemed to be more distant; 
and by the flash of the cannon it was seen that she was 
drawing out of the fight. The Americans cheered 
lustily, and Truxton ordered that his ship be braced 
up in chase. 

But the fire of the enemy had been rapid and well- 
directed; and now, at this critical moment, its results 
were to rob the " Constellation " of her victory. As 
the ships were brought about, to follow in the track 
of the flying " Vengeance," an ofiicer came rushing to 
the quarter-deck, and reported that all the shrouds and 
braces of the foremast had been shot away, and the 
mast was in momentary danger of falling. The rig- 
ging had been so literally cut in pieces by the fire of 
the enemy, that splicing was out of the question; but 
Truxton, In the hope of saving his mast, called all 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 123 

hands from the guns, and the fire of the " Constella- 
tion " stopped. 

Up in the foretop was stationed Midshipman Jarvis, 
with a dozen or more of jackies, whose duty it was to 
mend the cordage of the topmast, and to keep up a 
musketry fire upon the enemy. Long before the officer 
of the deck had reported the danger of the foremast, 
one of the topmen had told Jarvis, who was but a lad, 
that the mast was likely to fall. 

" Ay, ay, my lad," responded the plucky young 
officer; "but our place is here, and we must go with 
it." 

The sailors on the deck below worked manfully: but, 
notwithstanding all their efforts, the mast soon went 
by the board; and Jarvis and his brave comrades were 
thrown far out into the black water, never to be seen 
again. 

The fall of the foremast ended the battle for the 
" Constellation." Helpless, and cumbered by the 
wreck, she tossed about on the water, while her foe 
made good her escape. What might have been the 
outcome of the conflict, had it continued, it is impossible 
to tell. " La Vengeance " carried heavier metal and 
a larger crew than the American frigate; and Truxton, 
with all his dash, found no mean adversary in Captain 
Pitot. Yet the condition of the French ship when she 
came into port at Curaqoa showed that the fire of the 
Yankee gunners had been rapid and accurate. Fifty 
of the enemy were killed, and one hundred and ten 
wounded; while, of the Americans, only thirty-nine ap- 
peared on the lists of killed and wounded. It was 
said at the time that Captain Pitot reported having 
struck his flag three times; hoisting it again, on finding 
that in the darkness the " Constellation " took no 
notice of the surrender. But this seems, on the face 
of it, improbable; and the action can hardly be awarded 



124 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

to either ship, although the gallantry shown on either 
side was enough to win a victory. 

It may well be imagined that this brilliant action, 
together with the capture of " LTnsurgente," made the 
" Constellation " the most popular ship of the navy; a 
place which she held until the stirring events of the 
war with England pushed the " Constitution " so far 
to the front, that even now, when she lies dismantled 
and rotting at the Brooklyn navy-yard, Americans still 
think of " Old Ironsides " as the typical ship of our 
once glorious navy. 

Such were the striking incidents of a war that was 
not a war. In these modern days such a conflict would 
be impossible. Not merely the law of nations, but 
the conscience of nations would prevent its repetition. 
Even more than that, the change in naval armament 
in the size, power, and cost of ships has changed the 
whole trend of naval tactics. The quasi-war with the 
French is a chapter in history that can never be re- 
peated. 



CHAPTER IX 

War of 1812— British Pressgang Methods— The " Chesapeake " and 
" Leopard " — The " President " and " Little Belt " — Disparity 
of the Two Navies — " Constitution " and " Guerriere." 

Perhaps the greatest advantage that came to the 
young American nation from the half-way war with 
France lay in the fact that it brought the American 
warships out of retirement, gave their officers and crews 
practice in actual warfare, and fitted them for the more 
serious conflict with Great Britain which soon became 
inevitable. The struggle, of which we are about to 
tell the story, grew out of the insistence of the British 
upon the right (as they called it) of impressing Amer- 
ican seamen. Curiously enough, although the war 
ended with all the honors of the ocean won by the 
blue-jackets of the Union, the treaty finally signed made 
no mention of the prime issue on which the conflict was 
waged. But it is a matter of history that wars seldom 
settle the actual quarrel; often create new and equally 
puzzling problems. The war between the United 
States and Spain, for example, left this nation in pos- 
session of the Philippines — a territory practically un- 
known to our people before Dewey's victory. The 
War of 18 12 did not settle the question of impress- 
ment, except in so far as it demonstrated the ability 
of the young nation to defend its sailors' rights. 

Let us recount some instances of the methods em- 
ployed by the British navy at that time which finally 
stung Americans into retaliation : 

In 1807 the United States frigate " Chesapeake," 
then lying at the navy-yard at Washington, was put 
in commission, and ordered to the Mediterranean, to 

125 



126 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

relieve the " Constitution." Nearly a month was con- 
sumed in making necessary repairs to hull and cordage, 
taking in stores, shipping a crew, and attending to the 
thousand and one details of preparation for sea that 
a long time out of commission makes necessary to a 
man-of-war. While the preparations for service were 
actively proceeding, the British minister informed the 
naval authorities that three deserters from His British 
Majesty's ship " Melampus " had joined the crew of 
the "Chesapeake"; and it was requested that they 
should be given up. The request was made with due 
courtesy; and, although there is no principle of inter- 
national law which directs the surrender of deserters, 
yet the United States, as a friendly nation, was inclined 
to grant the request, and an inquiry was made into the 
case. The facts elicited put the surrender of the men 
out of the question; for though they frankly confessed 
to have deserted from the " Melampus," yet they 
claimed to have been impressed into the British service, 
and proved conclusively that they were free Americans. 
This was reported to the British minister; and, as he 
made no further protests, it was assumed that he was 
satisfied. 

Some weeks later the vessel left the navy-yard, and 
dropped down the river to Hampton Roads. Even 
with the long period occupied in preparation for sea, 
the armament of the ship was far from being in order; 
a fact first discovered as she passed Mount Vernon, as 
she was unable to fire the salute with which at that 
time all passing war-vessels did honor to the tomb of 
Washington. After some days' stay at Hampton 
Roads, during which time additional guns and stores 
were taken on, and the crew increased to three hundred 
and seventy-five men, the ship got under way, and 
started on her voyage. 

It was on a breezy morning of June that the " Chesa- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 127 

peake " left the broad harbor of Hampton Roads, the 
scene of so many of our naval glories. From the 
masthead of the frigate floated the broad pennant of 
Commodore Barron, who went out in command of the 
ship. The decks were littered with ropes, lumber, and 
stores, which had arrived too late to be properly stowed 
away. Some confusion is but natural on a ship start- 
ing on a cruise which may continue for years, but the 
condition of the " Chesapeake " was beyond all excuse; 
a fact for which the fitting-out officers, not her com- 
mander, were responsible. 

As the American ship passed out into the open ocean, 
there was a great stir on the decks of four English 
cruisers that lay quietly at anchor in Lynn Haven Bay; 
and almost immediately one of these vessels hoisted her 
anchor, set her sails, and started out in the track of 
the frigate. A stiff head-wind blowing, the American 
was forced to tack frequently, in order to get ahead; 
and her officers noticed that the British ship (the " Leop- 
ard," of fifty guns) tacked at the same time, and 
was evidently following doggedly in the wake of the 
" Chesapeake." No suspicion that the pursuer had 
other than peaceful motives in view entered the minds 
of the American officers; and the ship kept on her 
course, while the sailors set about putting the decks In 
order, and getting the vessel in trim for her long voy- 
age. While all hands were thus busily engaged, the 
" Leopard " bore down rapidly, and soon hailed, say- 
ing that she had a despatch for Commodore Barron. 
The " Chesapeake " accordingly hove to, and waited 
for a boat to be sent aboard. 

The two ships now lay broadside to broadside, and 
only about a half pistol-shot apart. No idea that the 
Englishman had any hostile designs seems to have oc- 
curred to Commodore Barron; but some of the younger 
officers noticed that the ports of the " Leopard " were 



128 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

triced up, and the tompions taken out of the muzzles 
of the cannon. The latter fact was of the gravest 
import, and should have been reported at once to the 
commander; but it appears that this was not done. 

In a few moments a boat put off from the " Leop- 
ard," and pulled to the American ship, where an 
officer stood waiting at the gangway, and conducted the 
visitor to Barron's cabin. Here the English lieutenant 
produced an order, signed by the British Admiral 
Berkeley, commanding all British ships to watch for 
the " Chesapeake," and search her for deserters. Com- 
modore Barron immediately responded, that the 
" Chesapeake " harbored no deserters, and he could not 
permit his crew to be mustered by the officer of any 
foreign power. Hardly had this response been made, 
when a signal from the " Leopard " recalled the board- 
ing officer to his ship. 

The officers of the " Chesapeake " were now fully 
aroused to the dangers of the situation, and began the 
attempt to get the ship in readiness for action. Com- 
modore Barron, coming out of his cabin for the first 
time, was forcibly struck by the air of preparation for 
action presented by the " Leopard." Captain Gordon, 
the second in command, was ordered to hasten the 
work on the gun-deck, and call the crew to quarters. 
The drummers began to beat the call to quarters, but 
hasty orders soon stopped them; and the men went 
to their places quietly, hoping that the threatening 
attitude of the *' Leopard " was mere bravado. 

The most painful suspense was felt by all on board 
the American ship. The attitude of the " Leopard " 
left little doubt of her hostile intentions, while a glance 
about the decks of the " Chesapeake " told how little 
fitted she was to enter into action. Her crew was a 
new one, never exercised at the guns, and had been 
mustered to quarters only three times. On the gun- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 129 

deck lay great piles of cumbrous cables, from the coiling 
of which the men had been summoned by the call to 
quarters. On the after-deck were piles of furniture, 
trunks, and some temporary pantries. What little sem- 
blance of order there was, was due to the efforts of 
one of the lieutenants, who, suspecting trouble when 
the " Leopard " first came up, had made great exertions 
toward getting the ship clear. While the captain stood 
looking ruefully at the confusion, still more serious 
troubles were reported. The guns were loaded; but 
no rammers, powder-flasks, matches, wads, or gun-locks 
could be found. While search was being made for 
these necessary articles, a hail came from the " Leop- 
ard." Commodore Barron shouted back that he did 
not understand. 

" Commodore Barron must be aware that the orders 
of the vice-admiral must be obeyed," came the hail 
again. 

Barron again responded that he did not understand. 
After one or two repetitions, the British determined 
to waste no more time in talking; and a single shot 
fired from the bow of the " Leopard " was quickly fol- 
lowed by a full broadside. The heavy shot crashed 
into the sides of the " Chesapeake," wounding many 
of the men, and adding to the confusion on the gun- 
deck. No answer came from the American frigate; 
for, though the guns were loaded, there was no way 
of firing them. Matches, locks, or loggerheads were 
nowhere to be found. Mad with rage at the helpless 
condition in which they found themselves, the oflScers 
made every effort to fire at least one volley. Pokers 
were heated red-hot in the galley-fire, and carried hastily 
to the guns, but cooled too rapidly in the rush across 
the deck. In the meantime, the " Leopard," none too 
chivalric to take advantage of an unresisting foe, had 
chosen her position, and was pouring in a deliberate 



I30 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

fire. For nearly eighteen minutes the fire was con- 
tinued, when the flag of the " Chesapeake " was hauled 
down. Just as it came fluttering from the masthead, 
Lieutenant Allen, crying, " I'll have one shot at those 
rascals, anyhow," ran to the galley, picked up a live 
coal in his fingers, and carried it, regardless of the 
pain, to the nearest gun, which was successfully dis- 
charged. This was the only shot that the " Chesa- 
peake " fired during the affair, — battle it cannot be 
called. 

A boat with two British lieutenants and several mid- 
shipmen on board speedily boarded the " Chesapeake," 
and the demand for the deserters was renewed. Four 
seamen were seized, and borne away in triumph; but 
the British commander refused to receive the ship as 
a prize, and even went so far as to express his regret 
at the loss of life, and proffer his aid in repairing the 
damages. Both sympathy and assistance were indig- 
nantly rejected; and the disgraced ship went sullenly 
back to Norfolk, bearing a sorely mortified body of 
ofiicers and seamen. Of the four kidnapped sailors, 
it may be stated here, that one was hanged, and the 
other three forced to enter the British service, in which 
one died. His comrades, five years later, were restored 
to the deck of the ship from which they had been 
taken. 

The news of this event spread like wildfire over the 
country, and caused rage and resentment wherever it 
was known. Cities, towns, and villages called for 
revenge. The President issued a proclamation, com- 
plaining of the habitual insolence of British cruisers, 
and ordering all such vessels to leave American waters 
forthwith. As in the reduced state of the navy it 
was impossible to enforce this order, he forbade all 
citizens of the United States to give aid to, or have 
any intercourse with, any such vessels or their crews. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 131 

War measures were taken both by the Federal and 
State Governments. As usual, the popular wrath was 
vented upon the least culpable of the people responsible 
for the condition of the " Chesapeake." Commodore 
Barron was tried by court-martial, and sentenced to five 
years' suspension from the service, without pay. The 
cool judgment of later years perceives the unjust- 
ness of this sentence, but its execution cast a deep 
shadow over the remainder of the unhappy officer's 
life. 

Three years passed before the first opportunity for 
effective retaliation presented itself. 

On May 7, 181 1, the United States frigate "Presi- 
dent " was lying quietly at anchor off Fort Severn, 
Annapolis. Everything betokened a state of perfect 
peace. The muzzles of the great guns were stopped 
by tompions. The ports were down. In the rigging 
of the vessel hung garments drying in the sun. At 
the side floated half a dozen boats. Many of the 
crew were ashore on leave. The sailing-master was at 
Baltimore, and the chaplain and purser were at Wash- 
ington. From the masthead floated the broad pennant 
of Commodore Kodgers, but he was with his family 
at Havre de Grace; and the executive officer. Captain 
Ludlow, was dining on the sloop-of-war " Argus," lying 
near at hand. But the captain's dinner was destined 
to be interrupted that bright May afternoon; for in 
the midst of the repast a midshipman entered, and re- 
ported that the commodore's gig was coming up rapidly, 
with Rodgers himself on board. The dinner party 
was hastily broken up, and the captain returned to his 
ship to receive his superior officer. On his arrival. 
Commodore Rodgers said that he had received orders 
to chase a frigate that had impressed a sailor from the 
" Spitfire," and insist upon the man's being liberated, 
if he could prove his citizenship. This was good news 



132 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

for every man on the frigate. At last, then, the United 
States was going to protect its sailors. 

Three days were spent in getting the crew together 
and preparing for sea; then the stately frigate, with 
all sails set and colors flying, weighed anchor, and 
stood down the Chesapeake with the intention of cruis- 
ing near New York. She had been out on the open 
ocean only a day, when the lookout, from his perch 
in the crosstrees, reported a strange sail on the horizon. 
The two vessels approached each other rapidly; and, 
as the stranger drew near, Rodgers saw, by the square- 
ness of her yards and the general trim, symmetrical cut 
of her sails, that she was a war-vessel. 

A little after eight in the evening the " President " 
was within a hundred yards of the chase, which could 
be seen, a dark mass with bright lights shining through 
the rows of open ports, rushing through the water 
directly ahead. Rodgers sprang upon the taffrail, and 
putting a speaking-trumpet to his lips, shouted, " What 
ship is that?" A dead silence followed. Those on 
the "President" listened intently for the answer; but 
no sound was heard save the sigh of the wind through 
the cordage, the creaking of the spars, and the rush 
of the water alongside. Rodgers hailed again; and, 
before the sound of his words had died away, a quick 
flash of fire leaped from the stern-ports of the chase, 
and a shot whizzed through the rigging of the " Presi- 
dent," doing some slight damage. Rodgers sprang to 
the deck to order a shot in return; but, before he could 
do so, a too eager gunner pulled the lanyard of his 
piece in the second division of the " President's " bat- 
tery. The enemy promptly answered with three guns, 
and then let fly a whole broadside, with discharges of 
musketry from the deck and the tops. This exhausted 
Rodgers's patience. '^ Equally determined," said he 
afterwards, " not to be the aggressor, or to suffer 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 133 

the flag of my country to be insulted with impunity, 
I gave a general order to fire." This time there was 
no defect in the ordnance or the gunnery of the Amer- 
ican ship. The broadsides rang out at regular inter- 
vals, and the aim of the gunners was deliberate and 
deadly. It was too dark to see what effect the fire 
was having on the enemy, but in five minutes her re- 
sponses began to come slowly and feebly. Unwilling 
to continue his attack on a ship evidently much his in- 
ferior in size and armament, Rodgers ordered the gun- 
ners to cease firing; but this had hardly been done when 
the stranger opened again. A second time the guns 
of the " President " were run out, and again they be- 
gan their cannonade. The stranger was soon silenced 
again; and Commodore Rodgers hailed, that he might 
learn the name of his adversary. In answer came a 
voice from the other vessel: 

" We are his Majesty's ship " A gust of wind 

carried away the name, and Rodgers was still in doubt 
as to whom he had been fighting. Hoisting a number 
of bright lights in her rigging, that the stranger might 
know her whereabouts, the " President " stood off and 
on during the night, ready to give aid to the disabled 
ship in case of need. 

At early dawn every officer was on deck, anxious to 
learn the fate of their foe of the night before. Far 
In the distance they could see a ship, whose broken 
cordage and evident disorder showed her to have been 
the other party to the fight. A boat from the " Presi- 
dent " visited the stranger, to learn her name and to 
proffer aid in repairing the damages received in the 
action. The ship proved to be the British sloop-of- 
war "Little Belt"; and her captain stated that she 
was much damaged in her masts, sails, rigging, and 
hull, and had been cut several times between wind and 
water. He declined the proffered aid, however, and 



134 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

sailed away to Halifax, the nearest British naval sta- 
tion. Commodore Rodgers took the " President " to 
the nearest American port. 

Another incident showed that the hatred of the Brit- 
ish service that prevailed among seamen was a matter 
of deep-seated conviction. While the United States 
ship " Essex " was lying in an English port, it became 
known that one of her crew was a deserter from the 
British navy, and his surrender was immediately de- 
manded. Although the man stoutly protested that he 
was an American, yet no proof could be shown; and, 
as the ship was in British waters, it was determined 
to surrender him. A British officer and squad of ma- 
rines boarded the " Essex " and waited on the deck 
while the sailor went below to get his kit. Bitterly 
complaining of the hardness of his fate, the poor fellow 
went along the gun-decks until he passed the carpenter's 
bench. His eye fell upon an axe; and after a minute's 
hesitation he stepped to the bench, seized the axe in 
his right hand, and with -one blow cut off the left. 
Carrying the severed member in his hand, he again 
sought the deck and presented himself, maimed, bleed- 
ing, and forever useless as a sailor, to the British officer. 
Astonished and horrified, that worthy left the ship, and 
the wounded man was sent to the sick-bay. The in- 
cident was a forcible commentary on the state of the 
British service at that time, and left a deep impression 
on the minds of all beholders. 

In the next contest over deserters, however, the Amer- 
icans rather secured the best of the argument. The 
" Constitution " was lying at anchor in Portsmouth 
roads, when one of the crew slily slipped overboard 
and swam down with the tide to the British ship 
" Madagascar " that lay at anchor near by. When 
he had reached the Englishman, he was too exhausted 
to speak; and the officers, supposing that he had fallen 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 135 

overboard accidentally, sent word to the " Constitu- 
tion " that her man had been saved, and awaited the 
orders of his commander. The next morning a boat 
was sent down to the " Madagascar " to fetch the 
man back; but, to the astonishment of the visiting offi- 
cer, he was told that the sailor claimed to be a British 
subject and wished to escape from the American service. 

" Have you any evidence," asked the American offi- 
cer of the British admiral, " beyond the man's own 
word, that he is an Englishman?" 

" None whatever, sir," was the response, " but we 
are obliged to take his declaration to that effect." 

The American officer returned to his ship, vowing 
vengeance on the harborers of the deserter. His op- 
portunity came that very night. 

In the dead watches of the night, when all was still 
on deck save the monotonous tramp of the sentries, there 
suddenly rang out on the still air the sharp crack of 
a musket. The officer of the deck rushed to see what 
was the matter, and was shown a dark object floating 
near the ship, at which a sentry had fired. A boat 
was lowered and soon came back, bringing in it a sailor 
who had deserted from the " Madagascar," and 
reached the " Constitution " by swimming. Captain 
Hull asked the fellow his nationality. 

" Sure, Oi'm a 'Merricun, your honor," he answered 
in a rich brogue that would have branded him as a 
Paddy in any part of the world. With a twinkle in 
his eye, Hull sent the Irishman below, and told the 
sailors to take good care of him. 

Early in the morning, a boat came from the " Mada- 
gascar"; and a trim young lieutenant, clambering 
aboard the American frigate, politely requested that 
the deserter be given up. With great dignity. Captain 
Hull responded that the man was a citizen of the 
United States, and should have protection. The visit- 



136 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ing officer fairly gasped for breath. " An American ! " 
he exclaimed. " Why, the man has never been out 
of Ireland except on a British man-of-war." 

" Indeed! " responded Hull blandly. " But we have 
his statement that he is an American, and we are obliged 
to take his declaration to that effect." And the man 
was never given up. 

Such occurrences as these could not fail to bring even 
friendly nations to open war — and there can be no idea 
that in these days there was any friendliness between 
the people of the United States and Great Britain. Yet 
neither government wished for war, and it was not 
until actual hostilities had long lasted that the fateful 
declaration was issued. 

Of that conflict this may be said: On land the United 
States forces won^ no glory until the battle of New 
Orleans, which, curiously enough, was fought by Gen- 
eral Andrew Jackson after the treaty of peace had been 
concluded. On the ocean our ships were almost uni- 
formly successful, the only serious disasters being the 
loss of the " Chesapeake " to the " Shannon," and the 
loss of the " Essex " off Valparaiso harbor. For both 
there were distinct reasons, in nowise discreditable to 
the American commanders, and which will be set forth 
in the account of these actions. 

So far as ocean operations were concerned it was a 
war of individual ships. The only fleet actions were 
on inland waters. It will be the simplest way of tell- 
ing the story to deal with the salt water battles first, 
taking up Perry on Lake Erie, and McDonough on 
Lake Champlain in a later chapter. Even on the ocean 
it appeared at first that the war was to be characterized 
by official over-caution, if not, indeed, timidity. Per- 
haps the timidity was to some extent justified. At 
the moment the naval rolls of Great Britain bore the 
names of over one thousand ships. Of these no fewer 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 137 

than two hundred and fifty-four were ships of the line, 
mounting seventy-four or more guns each. To oppose 
this force, at that time the most powerful in the world, 
the United States had twenty vessels of which the 
largest rated forty- four, and the majority less than 
thirty guns. It is small wonder that the national gov- 
ernment was appalled at the odds, and at first deter- 
mined to lay the ships up in port, using them as float- 
ing batteries for the defence of harbors and avoiding 
all cruises. It is to the eternal credit of the American 
navy that this determination on the part of President 
Madison was stoutly opposed by all commanding offi- 
cers. Had it stood, some of the brightest chapters 
in American naval annals would have remained un- 
written. 

The first notable action of the war was the one that 
made the name of the gallant frigate " Constitution " 
a household word in the United States for a century 
thereafter. After narrowly escaping capture by a fleet 
of five hostile vessels the " Constitution " was cruising 
along the New England coast when a Salem privateer 
was overhauled, the captain of which reported an Eng- 
lish frigate cruising in the neighborhood; and Captain 
Hull straightway set out to discover the enemy. 

The frigate which had been sighted by the Salem 
privateer, and for which Hull was so eagerly seeking, 
was the " Guerriere," a thirty-eight-gun ship com- 
manded by Captain Dacres. With both ship and cap- 
tain. Captain Hull had previously had some little ex- 
perience. The " Guerriere " was one of the ships in 
the squadron from which the " Constitution " had so 
narrowly escaped a few weeks before, while Captain 
Dacres was an old acquaintance. A story current at 
the time relates, that, before the war, the " Guerriere " 
and the "^Constitution" were lying in the Delaware; 
and the two captains, happening to meet at some- en- 



138 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

tertainment on shore, fell into a discussion over the 
merits of their respective navies. Although even then 
the cloud of war was rising on the horizon, each was 
pleasant and good-natured; and the discussion assumed 
no more serious form than lively banter. 

" Well," said Hull at last, " you may just take good 
care of that ship of yours, if ever I catch her in the 
' Constitution.' " 

Captain Dacres laughed good-humoredly, and offered 
to bet a sum of money, that in the event of a conflict 
his confident friend would find himself the loser. 

"No," said Hull, " I'll bet no money on it; but I 
will stake you a hat, that the ' Constitution ' comes out 
victorious." 

" Done," responded Dacres; and the bet was made. 
War was soon declared; and, as it happened, the two 
friends were pitted against each other early in the hos- 
tilities. 

It was not long after the American frigate parted 
from the privateer when the long-drawn hail of " Sail 
ho-o-o ! " from the lookout aloft announced the dis- 
covery of another vessel. The course of the " Constitu- 
tion " was at once shaped toward the stranger. In 
half an hour she was made out to be a frigate, and from 
her actions was evidently anxious to come alongside 
the American ship. As more than an hour must elapse 
before the ships could come together, Captain Hull 
made his preparations for action with the greatest de- 
liberation. The top-gallant sails were furled, and the 
lighter spars lowered to the deck. Through their 
glasses, the officers could see the enemy making simi- 
lar preparations, and waiting dehberately for the 
" Constitution " to come down. 

At five o'clock in the afternoon the two ships were 
rapidly nearing, and the drums on the American frigate 
beat to quarters. Then followed the rush of bare- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 139 

footed men along the deck, as they ran hastily, but 
in perfect order, to their stations. As the roll of the 
drums died away, the shrill voices of the boyish mid- 
shipmen arose, calling off the quarter-bills, and an- 
swered by the gruff responses of the men at their posts. 
Every man, from the cook to the captain, knew his 
place, and hurried to it. The surgeon, with his as- 
sistants, descended to the cockpit. The carpenter 
and his mates made ready their felt-covered plugs, for 
stopping holes made by the enemy's shot. The top- 
men clambered to their posts in the rigging, led by 
the midshipmen who were to command them. The 
line of powder-passers was formed; and the powder- 
monkeys gave up skylarking, and began to look sober 
at the thought of the business in hand. 

The " Guerriere " was not behindhand in her prepa- 
rations for action. Captain Dacres had suspected the 
character of the American vessel, from the first mo- 
ment she had been sighted. On board the English 
frigate was Captain William B. Orne, a Marblehead 
sailor who had been captured by the " Guerriere " some 
days before. " Captain Dacres seemed anxious to as- 
certain her character," wrote Captain Orne, shortly 
after the battle, " and after looking at her for that 
purpose, handed me his spy-glass, requesting me to 
give him my opinion of the stranger. I soon saw, 
from the peculiarity of her sails and her general ap- 
pearance, that she was without doubt an American 
frigate, and communicated the same to Captain Dacres. 
He immediately replied, that he thought she came down 
too boldly for an American; but soon after added, 
' The better he behaves, the more credit we shall gain 
by taking him.' 

" The two ships were rapidly approaching each 
other, when the ' Guerriere ' backed her main topsail, 
and waited for her opponent to come down and com- 



I40 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

mence the action. He then set an English flag at 
each masthead, beat to quarters, and made ready for 
the fight. 

" When the strange frigate came down to within 
two or three miles distant, he hauled upon the wind, 
took in all his light sails, reefed his topsails, and de- 
liberately prepared for action. It was now about five 
in the afternoon, when he filled away and ran down 
for the ' Guerriere.' At this moment Captain Dacres 
said politely to me, ' Captain Orne, as I suppose you 
do not wish to fight against your own countrymen, 
you are at liberty to retire below the water-line.' It 
was not long after this, before I retired from the quar- 
ter-deck to the cockpit." It may be well here to sup- 
plement Captain Orne's narrative by the statement that 
Captain Dacres, with a chivalric sense of justice not 
common in the British navy of that day, allowed ten 
American sailors who had been impressed into his crew 
to leave their quarters and go below, that they might 
not fight against their country. Though an enemy, 
he was both gallant and generous. 

The action was opened by the " Guerriere " with 
her weather broadside; the shot of which all falling 
short, she wore around, and let fly her port broadside, 
sending most of the shot through her enemy's rigging, 
though two took effect in the hull. In response to 
this, the " Constitution " yawed a little, and fired two 
or three of her bow-guns; after which the " Guerriere " 
again opened with broadsides. In this way the battle 
continued for about an hour; the American ship saving 
her fire, and responding to the heavy broadsides with 
an occasional shot. 

During this ineffectual firing, the two ships were 
continually drawing nearer together, and the gunners 
on the " Constitution " were becoming more and more 
restive under their inaction. Captain Hull was pac- 



^k. 




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5: 



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2 B 

H 2 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 141 

ing the quarter-deck with short, quick steps, trying 
to look cool, but inwardly on fire with excitement. 
As the shot of the enemy began to take effect, and 
the impatience of the gunners grew more intense, Lieu- 
tenant Morris, the second in command, asked leave to 
respond with a broadside. 

" Not yet," responded Captain Hull with cool deci- 
sion. Some minutes later, the request was repeated, 
and met with the same response, while the captain 
never ceased his pacing of the deck. When within 
about half pistol-shot, another broadside came from 
the " Guerriere." Then the smothered excitement in 
Hull's breast broke out. 

" Now, boys, pour it into them! " he shouted at the 
top of his lungs, gesticulating with such violence that 
the tight breeches of his naval uniform split clear down 
the side. Lieutenant Morris seconded the captain in 
cheering on the crew. 

** Hull her, boys! Hull her! " he shouted; and the 
crew, catching up the cry, made the decks ring with 
shouts of "Hull her!" as they rapidly loaded and 
let fly again. 

The effect of their first broadside was terrific. Deep 
down in the cockpit of the " Guerriere," Captain Orne, 
who had been listening to the muffled thunder of the 
cannonade at long range, suddenly " heard a tremen- 
dous explosion from the opposing frigate. The effect 
of her shot seemed to make the ' Guerriere ' reel and 
tremble, as though she had received the shock of an 
earthquake. Immediately after this, I heard a tre- 
mendous shock on deck, and was told that the mizzen- 
mast was shot away. In a few moments afterward, 
the cockpit was filled with wounded men." 

Though In his retreat in the cockpit the captive 
American could hear the roar of the cannon, and see 
the ghastly effects of the flying missiles, he could form 



142 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

but a small idea of the fury of the conflict which was 
raging over his head. Stripped to the waist, and 
covered with the stains of powder and of blood, the 
gunners on the two ships pulled fiercely at the gun- 
tackle, and wielded the rammers with frantic energy; 
then let fly the death-dealing bolt into the hull of an 
enemy only a few yards distant. The ships were 
broadside to broadside, when the Englishman's miz- 
zen-mast was shot away, and fell, throwing the top- 
men far out into the sea. The force of the great 
spar falling upon the deck made a great breach in 
the quarter of the ship; and, while the sailors were 
clearing away the wreck, the " Constitution " drew 
slowly ahead, pouring in several destructive broadsides, 
and then luffed slowly, until she lay right athwart the 
enemy's bow. While in this position, the long bow- 
sprit of the " Guerriere " stretched far across the quar- 
ter-deck of the American ship, and was soon fouled 
in the mizzen-rigging of the latter vessel. Then the 
two ships swung helplessly around, so that the bow of 
the Englishman lay snugly against the port-quarter of 
the Yankee craft. Instantly, from the deck of each 
ship rang out the short, sharp blare of the bugle, 
calling away the boarders, who sprang from their guns, 
seized their heavy boarding caps and cutlasses, and 
rushed to the side. But a heavy sea was rolling and 
tossing the two frigates, so that boarding seemed im- 
possible; and, as Dacres saw the crowd of men ready 
to receive his boarders, he called them back to the 
guns. Although each party stuck to its own ship, 
the fighting was almost hand to hand. Pistols were 
freely used; and from the tops rained down a ceaseless 
hail of leaden missiles, one of which wounded Captain 
Dacres slightly. So near to each other were the com- 
batants, that the commands and the cries of rage and 
pain could be heard above the deep-toned thunder of 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 143 

the great guns and the ceaseless rattle of the musketry. 
The protruding muzzles of the guns often touched the 
sides of the opposing ship; and when the cannon were 
drawn in for loading, the sailors on either side thrust 
muskets and pistols through the ports, and tried to 
pick off the enemy at his guns. 

While the fight was thus raging, a cry of " Fire ! " 
horrified every one on the " Constitution." Flames 
were seen coming from the windows of the cabin, which 
lay directly beneath the bow-guns of the " Guerriere." 
The fire had been set by the flash from the enemy's 
cannon, so close were the two ships together. By 
the strenuous exertions of the men on duty in the cabin, 
the flames were extinguished, and this, the greatest of 
all dangers, averted. Shortly after, the gun which 
had caused the trouble was disabled by a skilful shot 
from one of the Yankee's guns. 

While the flames in the cabin were being extin- 
guished, the Americans were making a valiant attempt 
to board and Lieutenant Morris with his own hands was 
attempting to lash the two ships together. Abandon- 
ing this attempt, he leaped upon the taffrail, and called 
upon his men to follow him. Lieutenant Bush of the 
marines, and Mr. Alwyn, were soon at the side of 
the Intrepid officer, when, at a sudden volley of mus- 
ketry from the British, all three fell back, poor Bush 
dead, and the two others badly wounded. The ships 
then drifted asunder; and the " Guerrlere's " foremast 
was shot away, and dragged down the mainmast with 
It In Its fall. The shattered ship now lay a shapeless 
hulk, tossing on the waves, but still keeping a British 
ensign defiantly flying from the stump of her fallen 
mizzen-mast. 

The " Constitution " drew away, firing continually, 
and soon secured a raking position; seeing which, the 
British hauled down their colors. Lieutenant Read 



144 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

was sent on board the prize, and, on the appearance 
of Captain Dacres, said: 

" Captain Hull presents his compliments, sir, and 
wishes to know if you have struck your flag." 

Dacres looked significantly at the shattered masts 
of his ship, and responded drily: 

" Well, I don't know. Our mizzen-mast is gone, 
our main-mast is gone; and I think, on the whole, 
you may say that we have struck our flag." 

After looking about the ship, the boarding ofliicer 
stepped to the side, to return to his own vessel. Be- 
fore leaving, he said to Captain Dacres : 

" Would you like the assistance of a surgeon, or 
surgeon's mate, in caring for your wounded? " 

Dacres looked surprised, and responded: 

" Well, I should suppose you had on board your 
own ship business enough for all your medical officers." 

" Oh, no ! " answered Read. " We have only seven 
wounded, and they have been dressed long ago." 

Dacres was astounded, as well he might be; for 
on the decks of his ship lay twenty-three dead or mor- 
tally wounded men, while the surgeons were doing their 
best to alleviate the sufferings of fifty-six wounded, 
among whom were several officers. Indeed, the ship 
looked like a charnel-house. When Captain Orne, 
freed by the result of the battle, came on deck, he 
saw a sight that he thus describes: "At about half- 
past seven o'clock, I went on deck, and there beheld 
a scene which it would be diflicult to describe. All 
the ' Guerriere's ' masts were shot away; and, as she 
had no sails to steady her, she was rolling like a log 
in the trough of the sea. Many of the men were em- 
ployed in throwing the dead overboard. The decks 
were covered with blood, and had the appearance of 
a ship's slaughter-house. The gun-tackles were not 
made fast; and several of the guns got loose, and were 




'•iMIHiiiiirnn'iffiiTi' ii'iilii'iT^ 



•ISAAf li ri.8. 



CAPTAIN ISAAC HULL 

(From a contemporary portrait) 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 145 

surging from one side to the other. Some of the petty 
officers and seamen got liquor, and were intoxicated; 
and what with the groans of the wounded, the noise 
and confusion of the enraged survivors on board of 
the ill-fated ship, rendered the whole scene a perfect 
hell." 

For some time after the " Guerriere " had been for- 
mally taken possession of, it seemed as though the 
" Constitution " would have to fight a second battle, 
to keep possession of her prize. A strange sail was 
seen upon the horizon, bearing down upon the " Con- 
stitution " in a way that seemed to threaten hostilities. 
Again the drums beat to quarters, and once again the 
tired crew went to their stations at the guns. But 
the strange ship sheered off, and the gallant crew were 
not forced to fight a second battle. All hands then 
set to work to remove the prisoners from the " Guer- 
riere," which was evidently in a sinking condition. 

In the first boat-load from the sinking ship came 
Captain Dacres, who was politely shown into Captain 
Hull's cabin. Unclasping his sword from its place 
at his hip, the conquered seaman handed it silently 
to Captain Hull. The victor put it gently back, say- 
ing: 

" No, no, captain : I'll not take a sword from one 
who knows so well how to use it. But I will trouble 
you for that hat." 

For a moment a shade of perplexity passed over 
the brow of the British captain; then he recollected 
the wager of a year or two before, and all was clear 
again. Unfortunately, the veracious chronicler who 
has handed this anecdote down to modern times has 
failed to state whether the debt was duly paid. 

When the ship came up the harbor, she was met 
and surrounded by a great flotilla of gaily decorated 
boats; while the flags on the surrounding vessels were 



146 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

dipped in salutation as the war-scarred veteran made 
her stately way to the wharf. Here a volunteer ar- 
tillery company was assembled; and, as the ship came 
up, they fired a national salute, which was returned 
from the guns so lately employed in defending the na- 
tional honor. Quarters had been prepared for Cap- 
tain Hull in the city; and, as he landed, he found the 
streets through which he must pass decked with bright 
bunting, and crowded with people. His progress was 
accompanied by a great wave of cheers; for, as the 
people saw him coming, they set up a shout, which 
Vk^as not ended until he had passed from sight. At 
night came a grand banquet to the officers of the ship, 
at which six hundred sat down to the feast. The 
freedom of the city was presented to the captain; and 
at a later date came the news of sword presentations 
from citizens of New York, plate from the people of 
Philadelphia, and gold medals from Congress. Amid 
all the exultation, the rash arrogance of the British 
writers was not forgotten; and many a bumper was 
emptied to the success of the frigate described by Brit- 
ish journalists as " a bunch of pine boards under a 
bit of striped bunting." 



CHAPTER X 

Three Fierce Naval Duels — " United States " and " Macedonian " — 
" Wasp " and " Frolic " — " Constitution " and " Java." 

A SECOND notable single ship action followed fast upon 
Hull's victory over the " Guerriere." In the late 
fall of 1 8 13 the United States ship "United States," 
in command of Commodore Stephen Decatur, whom 
we have read of in connection with the war with Tri- 
poli, was cruising toward the West Indies when she 
fell in with H. B. M. ship " Macedonian," Captain 
Carden. The vessels were not unevenly matched, 
though the " United States " mounted six more guns 
than her enemy. Indeed, as was so often the case 
in those days, the two captains had met in friendly 
chat long before the war, and each expressed himself 
as certain of victory should their vessels meet in battle. 
One of the powder-monkeys, named Samuel Leech, 
of the British ship, told graphically and simply the 
story of that day's doings on the " Macedonian": 

" Sunday (Dec. 25, 18 12) came, and it brought with 
it a stiff breeze," so runs the powder-monkey's tale. 
" We usually made a sort of holiday of this sacred 
day. After breakfast it was common to muster the 
entire crew on the spar-deck, dressed as the fancy of 
the captain might dictate, — sometimes in blue jackets 
and white trousers, or blue jackets and blue trousers; 
at other times in blue jackets, scarlet vests, and blue 
or white trousers; with our bright anchor-buttons glanc- 
ing in the sun, and our black, glossy hats ornamented 
with black ribbons, and the name of our ship painted 
on them. After muster we frequently had church- 
service read by the captain; the rest of the day was 

147 



148 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

devoted to idleness. But we were destined to spend 
the rest of the Sabbath just introduced to the reader 
in a very different manner. 

" We had scarcely finished breakfast before the man 
at the masthead shouted ' Sail, ho! ' 

" The captain rushed upon deck, exclaiming, ' Mast- 
head, there ! ' 

'"Sir?' 

"'Where away is the sail?' 

" The precise answer to this question I do not recol- 
lect; but the captain proceeded to ask, 'What does 
she look like ? ' 

" ' A square-rigged vessel, sir,' was the reply of the 
lookout. 

" After a few minutes, the captain shouted again, 
' Masthead, there ! ' 

"'Sir?' 

'"What does she look like?' 

" ' A large ship, sir, standing toward us.' 

" By this time, most of the crew were on deck, 
eagerly straining their eyes to obtain a glimpse of the 
approaching ship, and murmuring their opinions to 
each other on her probable character. 

" Then came the voice of the captain, shouting, 
' Keep silence, fore and aft! ' 

" Silence being secured, he hailed the lookout, who 
to his question of ' What does she look like? ' replied, 
' A large frigate bearing down upon us, sir.' 

" A whisper ran along the crew, that the stranger 
ship was a Yankee frigate. The thought was con- 
firmed by the command of ' All hands clear the ship 
for action, ahoy ! ' The drum and fife beat to quar- 
ters, bulkheads were knocked away, the guns were re- 
leased from their confinement, the whole dread para- 
phernalia of battle was produced; and, after the lapse 
of a few minutes of hurry and confusion, every man 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 149 

and boy was at his post ready to do his best service 
for his country, except the band, who, claiming exemp- 
tion from the affray, safely stowed themselves away in 
the cable tier. We had only one sick man on the list; 
and he, at the cry of battle, hurried from his cot, feeble 
as he was, to take his post of danger. A few of the 
junior midshipmen were stationed below on the berth- 
deck, with orders, given in our hearing, to shoot any 
man who attempted to move from his quarters. 

" As the approaching ship showed American colors, 
all doubt of her character was at an end. ' We must 
fight her,' was the conviction of every breast. Every 
possible arrangement that could insure success was ac- 
cordingly made. The guns were shotted, the matches 
lighted; for, although our guns were all furnished with 
first-class locks, they were also furnished with matches, 
attached by lanyards, in case the lock should miss fire. 
A lieutenant then passed through the ship, directing 
the marines and boarders — who were furnished with 
pikes, cutlasses, and pistols — how to proceed if it 
should be necessary to board the enemy. He was 
followed by the captain, who exhorted the men to 
fidelity and courage, urging upon their consideration 
the well-known motto of the brave Nelson, ' England 
expects every man to do his duty.' In addition to all 
these preparations on deck, some men were stationed 
in the tops with small arms, whose duty it was to 
attend to trimming the sails, and to use their muskets, 
provided we came to close action. There were others, 
also, below, called sail-trimmers, to assist in working 
the ship, should it be necessary to shift her position 
during the battle." 

In the crew of the '* United States " were many 
young boys, of ages ranging from twelve to fourteen 
years. At that time many a lad received his warrant 
as midshipman while still in his tenth year; and young- 



I50 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

sters who wished to join the navy as " ship's boys," 
were always received, although sometimes their extreme 
youth made it illegal for their names to be formally 
enrolled upon the roster of the crew. Such was the 
station of little Jack Creamer, a ten-year-old boy, who 
had been serving on the ship for some weeks, although 
under the age at which he could be legally enlisted. 
When Jack saw the English frigate looming up in the 
distance, a troubled look came over his face, and he 
seemed to be revolving some grave problem in his 
mind. His comrades noticed his look of care, and 
rallied him on what they supposed to be his fear of 
the coming conflict. Jack stoutly denied this charge, 
but said he was anxious to speak to the captain before 
going into action. An old quartermaster marched him 
up to the quarter-deck, and stood waiting for Captain 
Decatur's attention. In a moment the captain noticed 
the two, and said cheerily: 

"Well, Jack, what's wanting now?" 

Touching his hat, the lad replied: " Commodore, 
will you please to have my name put down on the 
muster-roll? " 

"Why, what for, my lad?" 

" So that I can draw my share of the prize-money, 
when we take that Britisher, sir." 

Amused and pleased with the lad's confidence in the 
success of the " United States " in the coming battle, 
Decatur gave the necessary order; and Jack went back 
to his post with a prouder step, for he was now regu- 
larly enrolled. 

The two ships were now coming within range of 
each other, and a slow, long-distance cannonade was 
begun, with but little effect; for a long ground-swell 
was on, and the ships were rolling in a manner fatal 
to the aim of the gunners. After half an hour of 
this playing at long bowls, the Englishman's mizzen 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 151 

top-mast was shot away; and the cannon-balls from 
the " States " whizzed through the rigging, and 
splashed into the water about the " Macedonian," in 
a way that proved the American gunners had the range, 
and were utilizing it. Captain Carden soon saw that 
at long range the American gunners were more than 
a match for his men, and he resolved to throw prudence 
to the winds; and, disdaining all manoeuvring, bore 
straight down on the American ship, that lay almost 
stationary on the water, pouring in rapid and well- 
aimed broadsides. 

Though a gallant and dashing movement, this course 
led to the defeat of the English ship. The fire of 
the Americans was deadly in its aim, and marvellous 
In rapidity. So continuous was the flashing of the dis- 
charges from the broadside ports, that the sailors on 
the " Macedonian " thought their adversary was on 
fire, and cheered lustily. But the next instant their 
exultation was turned to sorrow; for a well-directed 
shot cut away the mizzen-mast, which fell alongside, 
suspended by the cordage. 

"Huzza, Jack!" cried the captain of a gun 
on the " United States." " We've made a brig of 
her." 

" Ay, ay, my lad," said Decatur, who stood near by; 
" now aim well at the main-mast, and she'll be a sloop 
soon." 

A few minutes later, the captain shouted to the near- 
est gunner, " Aim at the yellow streak. Her spars 
and rigging are going fast enough. She must have a 
little more hulling." 

This order was Immediately passed along the gun- 
deck, until every gunner was striving his utmost to 
plant his shot In the hull of the enemy. The effect 
was terrible. The great missiles crashed through the 
wooden sides of the English frigate, and swept the 



152 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

decks clear of men. She was coming down on the 
American bravely, and with manifest intention of 
boarding; but so skilfully was the "United States" 
manoeuvred, and so accurate and rapid was her fire, 
that the " Macedonian " was unable to close, and was 
fairly cut to pieces, while still more than a pistol-shot 
distant. The " United States," in the meantime, was 
almost unscathed. The aim of the English gunners 
was usually too high, and such shots as took effect 
were mainly in the rigging. After pounding away 
at the " Macedonian " until the chocks of the fore- 
castle guns on that ship were cut away, her boats cut 
to pieces, and her hull shattered with more than one 
hundred shot-holes, the American ship drew away 
slightly. The British thought she was in retreat, and 
cheered lustily, but were soon undeceived; for, after 
a little manoeuvring, the " United States " ranged up 
under her adversary's lee, securing a raking position. 
Before a broadside could be fired, the British hauled 
down their flag; and the action was ended, after just 
an hour and a half of fighting. 

The slaughter on the British frigate had been ap- 
palling. From the official accounts, we glean the cold 
reports of the numbers of the killed and wounded; 
but for any picture of the scene on the decks of the 
defeated man-of-war, we must turn to such descriptions 
as have been left by eye-witnesses. Sailors are not 
much given to the habit of jotting down the descrip- 
tions of the many stirring scenes in which they play 
parts in their adventurous careers; and much that is 
romantic, much that is picturesque, and much that is 
of historic value, has thus been lost to history. But 
of the details of the action between the " Macedonian " 
and " United States," the sailor-lad already quoted has 
left an account, probably as trustworthy as should be 
expected of a witness in his situation. He was sta- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 153 

tioned at one of the guns on the maui-deck; and it 
was his duty, as powder-boy, to run to the magazine 
for powder for his gun. Before the entrance to the 
magazine was a heavy wooden screen, pierced with a 
hole through which the cartridges were passed out to 
the fleet-footed powder-monkeys, as they rushed up for 
more powder. Each boy, on getting his cartridge, 
wrapped it in his jacket, that no stray spark might 
touch it, and dashed off at full speed for his gun, 
quickly returning for further supplies. 

With the men all standing pale and silent at the 
guns, the " Macedonian " came on doggedly towards 
her foe. Three guns fired from the larboard side of 
the gun-deck opened the action; but the fire was quickly 
stopped by the gruff order from the quarter-deck, 
"Cease firing: you are throwing away your shot!" 
Then came the roar of the opening volley from the 
American frigate. 

" A strange noise such as I had never heard before 
next arrested my attention," wrote the English sailor- 
lad. *' It sounded like the tearing of sails just over 
our heads. This I soon ascertained to be the wind 
of the enemy's shot. The firing, after a few minutes' 
cessation, recommenced. The roaring of cannon could 
now be heard from all parts of our trembling ship; 
and, mingling as it did with that of our foes. It made 
a most hideous noise. By and by I heard the shot 
strike the sides of our ship. The whole scene grew 
indescribably confused and horrible. It was like some 
awfully tremendous thunderstorm, whose deafening 
roar is attended by incessant streaks of lightning, carry- 
ing death in every flash, and strewing the ground with 
the victims of Its wrath; only in our case the scene 
was rendered more horrible than that by the presence 
of torrents of blood, which dyed our decks. Though 
the recital may be painful, yet, as it will reveal the 



154 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

horrors of war, and show at what a fearful price the 
victory is won or lost, I will present the reader with 
things as they met my eye during the progress of this 
dreadful fight. I was busily supplying my gun with 
powder, when I saw blood suddenly fly from the arm 
of a man stationed at our gun. I saw nothing strike 
him: the effect alone was visible; and in an instant 
the third lieutenant tied his handkerchief round the 
wounded arm, and sent the poor fellow below to the 
surgeon. 

" The cries of the wounded now rang through all 
parts of the ship. These were carried to the cockpit 
as fast as they fell, while those more fortunate men 
who were killed outright were immediately thrown 
overboard. As I was stationed but a short distance 
from the main hatchway, I could catch a glance at 
all who were carried below. A glance was all I could 
indulge in; for the boys belonging to the guns next 
to mine were wounded in the early part of the action, 
and I had to spring with all my might to keep three 
or four guns supplied with cartridges. I saw two of 
these lads fall nearly together. One of them was 
struck in the leg by a large shot; he had to suffer am- 
putation above the wound. The other had a grape or 
canister sent through his ankle. A stout Yorkshire- 
man lifted him in his arms, and hurried with him to the 
cockpit. He had his foot cut off, and was thus made 
lame for life. Two of the boys stationed on the quar- 
ter-deck were killed. They were both Portuguese. A 
man who saw one killed afterwards told me that his 
powder caught fire, and burnt the flesh almost off his 
face. In this pitiable situation the agonized boy lifted 
up both hands, as if imploring relief, when a passing 
shot instantly cut him in two." 

But the narrative of this young sailor, a boy in years, 
is almost too horrible for reproduction. He tells of 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 155 

men struck by three or four missiles at once, and hacked 
to pieces; of mangled sailors, mortally wounded, but 
still living, thrown overboard to end their sufferings; 
of the monotonous drip of the blood on the deck, as 
desperately wounded men were carried past. The 
brave seaman who left his bed of sickness for the post 
of duty had his head carried away by a cannon-ball. 
The schoolmaster who looked after the education of 
the midshipmen was killed. Even a poor goat, kept 
by the officers for her milk, was cut down by a cannon- 
ball, and, after hobbling piteously about the deck, was 
mercifully thrown overboard. And this was Sunday, 
Christmas Day ! 

The spot amidships where our sailor-lad was sta- 
tioned must have been the hottest station in the whole 
ship. Many years later, as Herman Melville, the 
author of several exciting sea-tales, was walking the 
deck of a man-of-war with an old negro, " Tawney," 
who had served on the " Macedonian," the veteran 
stopped at a point abreast the main-mast. " This part 
of the ship," said he, " we called the slaughter-house, 
on board the ' Macedonian.' Here the men fell, five 
and six at a time. An enemy always directs its shot 
here, in order to hurl over the mast. If possible. The 
beams and carlines overhead In the * Macedonian ' 
slaughter-house were spattered with blood and brains. 
About the hatchways it looked like a butcher's stall. 
A shot entering at one of the portholes dashed dead 
two-thirds of a gun's crew. The captain of the next 
gun, dropping his lock-string, which he had just pulled, 
turned over the heap of bodies, to see who they were; 
when, perceiving an old messmate who had sailed with 
him in many cruises, he burst Into tears, and taking the 
corpse up in his arms, and going to the side with it, 
held it over the water a moment, and eyeing It, cried, 
'O God! Tom.'' 



156 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Hang your prayers over that thing ! Overboard 
with it, and down to your gun ! ' 

*' The order was obeyed, and the heart-stricken sailor 
returned to his post." 

Amid such scenes of terror, the British tars fought 
on doggedly, cheering loudly as they worked their guns, 
but not knowing why they cheered; for the officers, 
at least, could see how surely the battle was going 
against them. When the " United States " drew away 
to repair damages, the British officers held a consulta- 
tion on the quarter-deck. They could not but see that 
their position was hopeless; and, knowing all further 
resistance to be folly, the flag was hauled down. To 
the pride of the officers the surrender was doubtless 
a severe blow. But Sam Leech remarks pithily, that 
to him " it was a pleasing sight; for he had seen fight- 
ing enough for one Sabbath, — more, indeed, than he 
wished to see again on a week-day." 

Decatur at once hailed, to learn the name of his 
prize, and then sent off a boat with Lieutenant Allen 
to take possession. He found the decks of the ship 
in a fearful state. Many of the crew had found liquor, 
and were drinking heavily. Others were throwing the 
dead into the sea, carrying the wounded below, and 
sprinkling the deck with hot vinegar, to remove the 
stains and odor of blood. The dead numbered forty- 
three, and sixty-one were wounded. An eye-witness 
of the terrible spectacle writes of it : " Fragments of 
the dead were distributed in every direction, the decks 
covered with blood, — one continued, agonizing yell of 
the unhappy wounded. A scene so horrible of my 
fellow-creatures, I assure you, deprived me very much 
of the pleasure of victory." Yet, with all this terrific 
destruction and loss of life on the " Macedonian," the 
"United States" was but little Injured; and her loss 
amounted to but seven killed, and five wounded. In- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 157 

deed, so slight was the damage done to the American 
ship, that an hour's active work by her sailors put her in 
trim for a second battle. 

After the " Macedonian " had been formally taken 
possession of by Lieutenant Allen, the British officers 
were removed to the American ship. Some of them 
were inclined to be very surly over their defeat, and 
by words and actions showed their contempt for the 
Americans, whose prisoners they were. In the first 
boat which went from the prize to the victor was the 
first lieutenant of the " Macedonian." As he clam- 
bered down the side of his vessel, he noticed that his 
baggage had not been put in the boat which was to 
bear him to the American frigate. Turning to Lieu- 
tenant Allen, he said surlily: 

" You do not intend to send me away without my 
baggage?" 

" I hope," responded Allen courteously, " that you 
do not take us for privateersmen." 

" I am sure I don't know by whom I have been 
taken," was the rude reply, which so angered Allen that 
he peremptorily ordered the fellow to take his place 
in the boat, and be silent. 

Whatever may have been the demeanor of the Brit- 
ish captives, they met with nothing but the most con- 
siderate treatment from the American officers. Cap- 
tain Carden, on his arrival upon the deck of the vic- 
torious frigate, was received with the consideration due 
his rank and the brave defence of his vessel. He was 
conducted at once to Decatur's cabin, on entering which 
he took off his sword, and mutely held it out for De- 
catur's acceptance. Decatur courteously refused to ac- 
cept it, saying, " Sir, I cannot take the sword of a 
man who has defended his ship so bravely; but I will 
take your hand." As long as Carden and his officers 
remained on the ship, they were treated with the great- 



158 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

est consideration, and were allowed to retain all their 
personal property. Every attempt was made to take 
away from them the bitter remembrance of their de- 
feat. The innate nobility of Decatur's nature is well 
shown in a letter written to his wife a few days after 
the action. " One-half of the satisfaction," he says, 
" arising from this victory is destroyed in seeing the 
mortification of poor Garden, who deserved success as 
much as we did who had the good fortune to obtain 
it." When Garden left the ship, he thanked Decatur 
for his consideration, and expressed a desire to do like- 
wise by the Americans, should he ever be able to turn 
the tables. 

Amid the heat of battle and the excitement of suc- 
cess, Decatur did not forget little Jack Greamer, the 
lately enrolled ship's boy. Shortly after the close of the 
conflict, he sent for Jack to come to his cabin. Soon 
a much abashed small boy stood before the captain. 

" Well, Jack," said the great man, " we did take 
her, after all." 

" Yes, your Honor," responded Jack. " I knew we 
would, before we gave her the first broadside." 

" And your share of the prize-money," continued 
Decatur, " may amount to two hundred dollars, if we 
get her safe into port. Now, what are you going to 
do with so much money?" 

Jack's eyes had lighted up at the thought of such 
great wealth. 

" Please, sir," he cried, " I'll send half of it to my 
mother; and the rest will get me a bit of schooling." 

"Well said. Jack," said Decatur warmly; and the 
interview closed for the time. But the captain's in- 
terest in the boy was aroused, and for years he showed 
an almost fatherly regard for the lad. Jack had his 
" bit of schooling," then received a midshipman's war- 
rant, and for years served Decatur, giving promise of 




- .1 
z -£ 



^ £ 

H o 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 159 

becoming an able officer. At last, however, his career 
was ended by the accidental upsetting of a boat when 
on a pleasure excursion in the Mediterranean. 

Leaving now, for a time, the story of the frigate 
battles, let us look at some of the sharp fights fought 
by the lesser vessels of the United States navy. A 
typical action of this character was the victory of 
the United States sloop-of-war " Wasp " over the 
" Frolic." The " Wasp " was one of the smallest ships 
of our navy, but well-built, well-found, and well- 
manned — a veritable bantam. She carried sixteen 
thirty-two pounder carronades and two " long twelves." 
Her commander, Jacob Jones, had served in the war 
with Tripoli and had been a captive among the Bar- 
barians. It was on a bright fall day in 18 12 that 
the " Wasp " caught sight of a British fleet of six 
vessels convoyed by a bluff little brig — the man-of-war 
*' Frolic " of a rating equal to that of the American. 

It was half-past eleven in the morning when the 
action began. The day was an ideal October morning 
at sea, — cool, clear, and a breeze blowing fresh and 
constantly stiffening. The two vessels were running 
on the starboard tack, not sixty yards apart. As they 
ploughed through the waves, great clouds of spray 
dashed over the bows; and every now and then a wave 
would sweep over the forecastle, drenching the jackies 
as they stood at their quarters. As they sped along, 
the two ships exchanged broadsides, the " Frolic " fir- 
ing three to the " Wasp's " two. After every broad- 
side, the gunners cheered as they saw the damage done 
by their fire. When the state of the sea is considered, 
it seems marvellous that the broadsides should have 
done any execution whatever. The vessels were roll- 
ing terribly, now wallowing in the trough of the sea, 
and again tossed high on the crest of some enormous 
wave. At one instant the muzzles of the guns would 



i6o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

be pointed toward the skies, then actually submerged 
under the waves, from which they rose dripping, to 
be loaded and fired before another dip should soak 
the charge. Yet, with all this rolling to spoil their 
aim, the gunners of both ships pointed their pieces 
with most destructive effect. Within five minutes 
from the time of opening fire, the main top-mast of 
the " Wasp " was shot away, and hung tangled in the 
rigging, despite the active efforts of the topmen, headed 
by the nimble midshipmen, to clear away the wreck. 
This greatly hampered the movements of the American 
vessel; and when, a few minutes later, the gaff and 
the main top-gallant mast fell, the chances of the Amer- 
ican ship seemed poor, indeed. The effects of the 
" Wasp's " fire were chiefly to be seen in the hull of 
her antagonist; but the first twenty minutes of the fight 
seemed to give the Englishman every chance of vic- 
tory, since his fire had so cut away the rigging of the 
" Wasp " that she became unmanageable. It Is said 
that the difference between the execution done by the 
two batteries was due to the fact that the British fired 
as their ship was rising on the crest of the wave, while 
the Americans fired from the trough of the sea, send- 
ing their shot into the hull of the enemy. 

While the fight was raging, the two ships were con- 
stantly drawing nearer together; and just as it seemed 
as though the destruction wrought in the " Wasp's " 
rigging would Inevitably lead to her defeat, the two 
vessels fouled. For an instant they lay yard-arm to 
yard-arm, and at that very moment the American gun- 
ners poured in a terrific broadside. So close were 
the two vessels to each other, that, in loading, the 
rammers were shoved up against the sides of the 
*' Frolic." Before the gunners of the " Frolic " could 
respond to this broadside, their ship swung round so 
that her bow lay against the "Wasp's" quarter; and 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS i6i 

her bowsprit passed over the heads of Captain Jones 
and his officers as they stood on the quarter-deck. That 
was the moment for a raking volley; and with deadly 
aim the Americans poured it in, and the heavy iron 
bolts swept the decks of the " Frolic " from stem to 
stern. 

This turn in the tide of battle fairly crazed with ex- 
citement the sailors of the " Wasp." With ringing 
cheers they applauded the success of the last volley, 
and, springing into the hammock-nettings, called loudly 
for their officers to lead them on board the English 
ship. From the quarter-deck, Captain Jones, with 
shouts and gestures, strove to hold back the excited 
men until another broadside could be given the enemy. 
But the enthusiasm of the sailors was beyond all con- 
trol. All at once, they saw a sailor from New Jersey, 
named Jack Lang, spring on a gun, cutlass in hand, 
ready to board. All were about to follow him, when 
Captain Jones called him down. Only for a minute 
did Jack's sense of duty overcome his enthusiasm; and 
then, remembering that he had once been impressed on 
the " Frolic," his rage blazed up, and in an Instant 
he was clambering over the nettings, calling for fol- 
lowers. Captain Jones saw that the ardor of his crew 
was beyond all control, and ordered the bugler to call 
away the boarders. Headed by their officers, the bold 
tars swarmed over the nettings, and through the tangled 
rigging, to the deck of the enemy's ship. Each man 
clutched his cutlass viciously, for he felt that a des- 
perate conflict was imminent. But when they dropped 
upon the deck of the " Frolic," a most unexpected spec- 
tacle met their eyes. 

The broad deck stretched out before them, unten- 
anted save by a few wounded officers near the stern, 
and a grim old British seaman at the wheel. Instead 
of the host of armed men with whom the boarders 



i62 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

expected to dispute the possession of the ship, they 
saw before them only heaps of dead sailors lying about 
the guns which they had been serving. On the quar- 
ter-deck lay Captain Whinyates and Lieutenant Wintle, 
desperately wounded. All who were unhurt had fled 
below, to escape the pitiless fire of the American guns, 
and the unerring aim of the sailors stationed in the 
" Wasp's " tops. Only the old helmsman stood un- 
daunted at his post, and held the ship on her course, 
even while the Americans were swarming over the net- 
tings and clambering down the bowsprit. The colors 
were still flying above the ship; but there was no one 
left, either to defend them or to haul them down, and 
they were finally lowered by the hands of Lieutenant 
Biddle, who led the boarding party. 

No action of the war was so sanguinary as this 
short conflict between two sloops-of-war. The " Fro- 
lic " went into action with a crew of one hundred and 
ten men, fully oflScered. When the colors were hauled 
down, only twenty men were uninjured. Every ofiicer 
was wounded, and of the crew thirty lost their lives. 
They had stood to their guns with the dogged courage 
of the English sailor at his best, and had been fairly 
mowed down by the destructive fire of the Americans. 
On the " Wasp," the loss of life was slight. The 
shot of the enemy took effect in the rigging chiefly. 
The three sailors who were killed were topmen at their 
posts, and the five wounded were almost all stationed 
in the rigging. 

The Americans were not destined to enjoy their 
triumph long. Shattered though the " Frolic " was. 
Lieutenant Biddle, with a prize-crew, took charge of 
her, and was in hopes of taking her safely to port; 
but his plan was rudely shattered by the appearance 
of an English frigate, only a few hours after the action 
ceased. For the " Frolic " to escape was out of the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 163 

question. Both her masts had gone by the board 
shortly after her flag was struck; and, when the new 
enemy hove in sight, the prize-crew was workmg hard 
to clear from her decks the tangled mass of riggmg, 
wreckage, and dead bodies, that made the tasks of 
navigation impossible. The ship was rollmg like a 
log in the trough of the sea, and was an easy prize 
for' an enemy of even less strength than the man-ot- 
war which was then bearing down upon her. 

One more fierce naval duel ends the record of the 
year 18 12 upon the ocean. After her famous victory 
over the " Guerriere " the frigate " Constitution ' had 
put into Boston to refit. When the ship was again 
ready for sea Captain Hull voluntarily resigned the 
command, saying that it was fair to give some other 
commander a chance for glory. The choice fell upon 
Captain Bainbridge, whose ill-luck in the war with 
Tripoli has already been noted. But the time had 
now come to change his fortune. Sailing from Boston 
with the sloop "Hornet" for a consort he left that 
vessel blockading in San Salvador harbor the English 
man-of-war " Bonne Citoyenne," which had half a mil- 
lion pounds sterling in her hold. Three days later 
the American frigate sighted a British vessel, which 
made no effort to avoid a conflict, but bore boldly down 
to the attack. This was the ship " Java," a thirty- 
eight, and therefore outclassed by the " Constitution," 
but commanded by a gallant sailor, Captain Lambert, 
who recked little of odds but audaciously offered batde. 
In the light wind that was blowing, the enemy 
proved the better sailer, and soon forged ahead. His 
object was to cross the bows of the American ship, 
and get in a raking broadside,— the end and aim of 
most of the naval manoeuvring in those days of wooden 
ships and heavy batteries. By skilful seamanship, 
Bainbridge warded off the danger; and the fight con- 



i64 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

tinued broadside to broadside. The firing on both 
sides was rapid and well directed. After half an hour 
of lighting, the " Constitution " was seriously crippled 
by a round shot, which carried away her wheel, and 
wounded Bainbridge by driving a small copper bolt 
deep into his thigh. For a moment it seemed as 
though the American ship was lost. Having no con- 
trol over the rudder, her head fell off, her sails flapped 
idly against the spars, and the enemy was fast coming 
into an advantageous position. But, though wounded, 
the indomitable Yankee captain was equal to the occa- 
sion. Tackle was rigged upon the rudder-post between 
decks, and a crew of jackies detailed to work the im- 
provised helm. The helmsmen were far out of ear- 
shot of the quarter-deck: so a line of midshipmen was 
formed from the quarter-deck to the spot where the 
sailors tugged at the steering-lines. 

" Hard-a-port ! " Bainbridge would shout from his 
station on the quarter-deck. 

" Hard-a-port ! Hard-a-port ! " came the quick re- 
sponses, as the midshipmen passed the word along. 
And so the ship was steered; and, notwithstanding the 
loss of her wheel, fairly out-manoeuvred her antagonist. 
The first raking broadside was delivered by the " Con- 
stitution," and did terrible execution along the gun- 
deck of the English ship. The two ships then ran 
before the wind, exchanging broadsides at a distance 
of half pistol-shot. At this game the American was 
clearly winning: so the Englishman determined to close 
and board, in the dashing, fearless way that had made 
the tars of Great Britain the terror of all maritime 
peoples. The frigate bore down on the " Constitu- 
tion," and struck her on the quarter; the long jib- 
boom tearing its way through the rigging of the Amer- 
ican ship. But, while this movement was being exe- 
cuted, the American gunners had not been idle; and 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 165 

the results of their labors were very evident, in the 
rigging of the " Java." Her jib-boom and bowsprit 
were so shattered by shot, that they were on the point 
of giving way; and, as the ships met, the mizzen-mast 
fell, crashing through forecastle and main-deck, crush- 
ing officers and sailors beneath it in the fall, and hurl- 
ing the topmen into the ocean to drown. The " Con- 
stitution " shot ahead, but soon wore and lay yard- 
arm to yard-arm with her foe. For some minutes 
the battle raged with desperation. A dense sulphurous 
smoke hung about the hulls of the two ships, making 
any extended vision impossible. Once in a while a 
fresher puff of wind, or a change in the position of 
the ships, would give the jackies a glimpse of their 
enemy, and show fierce faces glaring from the open 
ports, as the great guns were drawn in for loading. 
Then the gray pall of smoke fell, and nothing was 
to be seen but the carnage near at hand. The officers 
on the quarter-deck could better judge of the progress 
of the fray; and, the marines stationed there took ad- 
vantage of every clear moment to pick off some enemy 
with a shot from one of their muskets. High up 
in the tops of the " Constitution " were two small 
howitzers, with which crews of topmen, under the 
command of midshipmen, made lively play with grape 
and canister upon the crowded decks of the enemy. 
From the cavernous submarine depths of the cockpit 
and magazine, to the tops of each ship, not an idler 
was to be found. Chaplains, surgeons, clerks, cooks, 
and waiters — all were working or fighting for the 
honor of the flag under which they served. 

Again the British determined to board; and the 
quick, sharp notes of the bugle calling up the boarders 
gave warning of their intentions. The men in the 
tops of the American frigate, looking down from their 
lofty station, could see the crowd of boarders and 



i66 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

marines gathered on the forecastle and in the gang- 
ways, and could hear the shrill notes of the boatswain's 
whistle cheering them on. At that moment, however, 
the American fire raked the enemy with fearful effect, 
and the volleys of musketry from the marines and top- 
men made such havoc among the crowded boarders 
that the attempt was abandoned. The deadly fire of 
the Americans was not slackened. Captain Lambert 
was struck down, mortally wounded; and the com- 
mand fell upon Lieutenant Chads, who, though him- 
self badly wounded, continued the fight with true Brit- 
ish courage. Over the side of the " Java " hung the 
wreck of her top-hamper, which every broadside set 
on fire. Yet the British tars fought on, cheering lustily, 
and not once thinking of surrender, though they saw 
their fore-mast gone, their mizzen-mast shivered, even 
the last flag shot away, and the last gun silenced. 

When affairs had reached this stage, the " Constitu- 
tion," seeing no flag flying on the enemy, hauled away, 
and set about repairing her own damages. While thus 
engaged, the main-mast of the " Java " was seen to 
go by the board, and the ship lay a hopeless wreck 
upon the water. After making some slight repairs, 
Bainbridge returned to take possession of his prize, 
but, to his surprise, found a jack still floating over the 
helpless hulk. It was merely a bit of bravado, how- 
ever; for, as the " Constitution" ranged up alongside, 
the jack was hauled down. 

The " Java " proved to be a rich prize. She was 
one of the best of the English frigates, and had just 
been especially fitted up for the accommodation of the 
governor-general of Bombay and his staff, all of whom 
were then on board. This added to the regular num- 
ber of officers and crew more than one hundred pris- 
oners, mostly of high rank in British military and social 
circles. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 167 

The boarding officer found the ship so badly cut up 
that to save her was impossible. Her loss in men, 
including her captain, Henry Lambert, and five mid- 
shipmen, was forty-eight, together with one hundred 
and five wounded, among whom were many officers. 
The " Constitution " had suffered much less severely, 
having but twelve killed and twenty wounded. The 
ship herself was but little damaged; her chief injury 
being the loss of her wheel, which was immediately 
replaced by that of the " Java." 

Captain Balnbridge now found himself a great dis- 
tance from home, with a disabled ship filled with pris- 
oners, many of whom were wounded. Even had the 
wreck of the " Java " been less complete, it would 
have been hazardous to attempt to take her back to 
the United States through the West India waters that 
swarmed with British vessels. No course was open 
save to take the prisoners aboard the " Constitution," 
and set the torch to the disabled hulk. 

To do this was a work of no little difficulty. The 
storm of lead and iron that had swept across the decks 
of the British frigate had left intact not one of the 
boats that hung from the davits. The " Constitution " 
had fared better; but, even with her, the case was 
desperate, for the British cannonade had left her but 
two serviceable boats. To transfer from the sinking 
ship to the victorious frigate nearly five hundred men, 
over a hundred of whom were wounded, was a serious 
task when the means of transfer were thus limited. 

Three days the " Constitution " lay by her defeated 
enemy, and hour after hour the boats plied between 
the two ships. The first to be moved were the wounded. 
Tackle was rigged over the side of the *' Java"; and 
the mangled sufferers, securely lashed in their ham- 
mocks, were gently lowered into the waiting boat, and 
soon found themselves in the sick-bay of the American 



i68 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ship, where they received the gentlest treatment from 
those who a few hours before sought only to slay 
them. The transfer of the wounded once accom- 
plished, the work proceeded with great rapidity: and 
in the afternoon of the third day the " Constitution " 
was filled with prisoners; and the "Java," a deserted, 
shattered hulk, was ready for the last scene in the 
drama of her career. 

The last boat left the desolate wreck, and, reaching 
the " Constitution," was hauled up to the davits. The 
side of the American frigate next to the abandoned 
ship was crowded with men, who looked eagerly across 
the water. Through the open portholes of the " Java," 
a flickering gleam could be seen, playing fitfully upon 
the decks and gun-carriages. The light grew brighter, 
and sharp-tongued flames licked the outside of the hull, 
and set the tangled cordage in a blaze. With this 
the whole ship seemed to burst into fire, and lay toss- 
ing, a huge ball of flame, on the rising sea. When 
the fire was raging most fiercely, there came a terrific 
explosion, and the great hull was lifted bodily from 
the water, falling back shattered to countless bits. 
Guns, anchors, and ironwork dragged the greater part 
of the wreckage to the bottom; and when the "Con- 
stitution," with all sail set, left the spot, the captive 
Englishmen, looking sadly back, could see only a patch 
of charred woodwork and cordage floating upon the 
ocean to mark the burial-place of the sturdy frigate 
"Java." 

The " Constitution " made sail for San Salvador, 
where the prisoners were landed; first giving their 
paroles not to serve against the " United States " until 
regularly exchanged. Bainbridge then took his ship 
to Boston, where she arrived in February, 1813. 

The substitution of the wheel of the " Java " for 
that of the " Constitution," shot away in battle, has 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 169 

been alluded to. In his biography of Captain Bain- 
bridge, Fenimore Cooper relates a story of interest 
regarding this trophy. It was a year or two after 
peace was made with England, in 18 15, that a British 
naval officer visited the " Constitution," then lying at 
the Boston navy-yard. The frigate had been newly 
fitted out for a cruise to the Mediterranean; and an 
American officer, with some pride, showed the English- 
man over the ship, which was then undoubtedly the 
finest of American naval vessels. After the tour of the 
ship had been made, the host said, as they stood chat- 
ting on the quarter-deck: 

" Well, what do you think of her? " 

" She is one of the finest frigates, if not the very 
finest, I ever put my foot aboard of," responded the 
Englishman; "but, as I must find some fault, I'll just 
say that your wheel is one of the clumsiest things I 
ever saw, and is unworthy of the vessel." 

The American officer laughed. 

" Well, you see," said he, " when the * Constitution ' 
took the ' Java,' the former's wheel was shot out of 
her. The ' Java's ' wheel was fitted on the victorious 
frigate, to steer by; and, although we think it as ugly 
as you do, we keep it as a trophy." 

All criticisms on the wheel ended then and there. 

The defeat of the " Java " closed the warfare on 
the ocean during 18 12. The year ended with the 
honors largely in the possession of the United States 
navy. The British could boast of the capture of but 
two armed vessels, — the " Nautilus," whose capture by 
an overwhelming force we have already noted; and 
the little brig " Vixen," twelve guns, which Sir James 
Yeo, with the " Southampton," thirty-two, had over- 
hauled and captured in the latter part of November. 
The capture of the " Wasp " by the " Poictiers," when 
the American sloop-of-war was cut up by her action 



I70 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

with the " Frolic," was an occurrence, which, however 
unfortunate for the Americans, reflected no particular 
honor upon the British arms. 

In opposition to this record, the Americans could 
boast of victory in four hard-fought battles. In no 
case had they won through any lack of valor on the 
part of their antagonists; for the Englishmen had not 
sought to avoid the battle, and had fought with the 
dogged valor characteristic of their nation. In one 
or two instances, it is true that the Americans were 
more powerful than the foe whom they engaged; but, 
in such cases, the injury inflicted was out of all pro- 
portion to the disparity in size of the combatants. The 
four great actions resulting in the defeat of the " Guer- 
riere," the " Frolic," the " Macedonian," and the 
" Java," showed conclusively that the American blue- 
jackets were equal in courage to their British oppo- 
nents, and far their superiors in coolness, skill, dis- 
cipline, and self-reliance; and these qualities may be 
said to have won the laurels for the American navy 
that were conceded to it by all impartial observers. 



CHAPTER XI 

The War on the Lakes — Building a Fresh Water Navy — Perry at 
Put-in-Bay — McDonough on Lake Champlain. 

In these days of peace and industry it is difficult to 
tliink of the picturesque hills of Lake Champlain, or 
the vine-clad shores of Put-in-Bay reverberating to 
the sound of cannon, and echoing back the cries of 
infuriated enemies fighting to the death. But the War 
of 1 8 12 was scarcely declared when operations upon 
our fresh water seas began. The British held Canada 
and the magnificent St. Lawrence waterway to the 
ocean. Lake Champlain and Lake George offered a 
temptingly direct route to the very middle of New 
York. The land all about is mountainous and was 
then densely wooded, making the progress of an in- 
vading force by land most difficult. So, too, with 
Lakes Ontario and Erie. Save for the portage about 
the Niagara cataract, these lakes afforded a direct 
water route from the Canadian strongholds to what 
was then the northwestern frontier of the United 
States. As a result of these geographical considera- 
tions two battles were fought afloat on our inland seas 
which were perhaps of as much effect in determining 
the outcome of the war as any battle by sea or land. 
The name of Commodore Perry is writ large in Amer- 
ican history, while that of Commodore McDonough, 
who won the equally decisive battle on Lake Cham- 
plain, deserves to be ranked with it. 

When war was declared the English were vastly 
better equipped for its prosecution than the Americans. 
On Lake Erie the English flag waved over six men- 

171 



172 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of-war with forty-six guns; the United States had but 
the " Oneida," with sixteen. The British were nearer 
their base of supphes, with a practically uninterrupted 
water route to the front, while all American supplies 
had to be brought by land from the head of naviga- 
tion on the Hudson. A picturesque incident of the 
work of thus transporting supplies and ship-building 
was the carrying of a monster hempen cable, weighing 
9,600 pounds, on the shoulders of two hundred men 
from the last safe point of water carriage through the 
woods to Sackett's Harbor, where the warships Avere 
being pushed to completion. Like a colossal centipede 
or python the great rope with its bearers wound 
through the circuitous path, hidden from the British 
ships that blocked the lake, until after thirty-six hours 
of toil it was thrown down in the street of Sackett's 
Harbor amid the sighs of relief of its bearers and the 
cheers of those who were waiting for it. 

Looking back upon the early days of the war, one 
is perplexed to understand how the British ever per- 
mitted the Americans to build a fresh-water navy. 
They had the force to prevent it, had that force been 
vigorously used. Perhaps one reason was that the 
British ships were not officered by practised navy offi- 
cers, but by merchant captains and militiamen picked 
up along the Canadian shore. Be that as it may, the 
only serious attack made on the American naval sta- 
tions was an attempt to destroy the " Oneida " at 
Sackett's Harbor. That was on a Sunday morning In 
July, 1 8 12. 

At early dawn of the day mentioned, the lookout 
reported five ships in the offing, and a few minutes 
later hailed the deck, to report them to be British 
ships-of-war. The alarm quickly spread over the little 
town. Puny though the British fleet would have ap- 
peared upon the ocean, it was of ample power to take 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 173 

the ** Oneida " and destroy the village. Before the 
villagers fairly understood their peril, a small boat 
came scudding into the harbor before the wind. It 
bore a message from the British commander, demand- 
ing that the "Oneida" and the "Lord Nelson" (a 
captured Canadian vessel) be surrendered. Should 
the squadron be resisted, he warned the inhabitants 
that their town should be burned to the ground. 

Commander Woolsey, who commanded the " Onei- 
da," was a United States officer of the regular service, 
and a man of courage and fertility of resource. Un- 
able to take his vessel out into the lake, he moored 
her at the entrance of the harbor in such a way that 
her broadside of nine guns might be brought to bear 
on the enemy. All hands then set to work getting 
the other broadside battery ashore; and, by the aid 
of the villagers, these guns were mounted on a hastily 
thrown up redoubt on the shore. At the foot of the 
main street of the village was planted a queerly assorted 
battery. The great gun, on which the hopes of the 
Americans centred, was an iron thirty-two-pounder, 
which had lain for years deeply embedded in the muddy 
ooze of the lake-shore, gaining thereby the derisive 
name of the " Old Sow." This redoubtable piece of 
ordnance was flanked on either side by a brass six- 
pounder; a pair of cannon that the Yankee sailors had, 
with infinite pains and indomitable perseverance, 
dredged up from the sunken hulk of a British war- 
vessel that had filled a watery grave some years. Two 
brass nine-pounders completed this novel armament. 

It was about eight o'clock in the morning when the 
British vessels came up within range. Alarm guns had 
been firing from the shore all the morning; and by that 
time the village was filled with militiamen, who flocked 
to the scene of action. Woolsey, who had taken 
charge of the shore-batteries, ordered a shot from the 



174 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

thirty-two pounder. The " Old Sow " spoke out 
bravely, but the shot missing, only roused the enemy 
to laughter, which could be heard on shore. The Brit- 
ish vessels then began a vigorous cannonade, keeping 
well out of range of the small guns on shore; although 
so weak were the American defences, that a vigorous 
onslaught by the enemy would have quickly reduced the 
town to submission. As it was, a harmless fire was 
kept up for about two hours. Not a shot took effect, 
and nothing save the noise and excitement of the can- 
nonading need have deterred the good people of Sac- 
kett's Harbor from observing that Sundaay morning 
in accordance with their usual Sabbath customs. It 
was reserved for one shot to put an end to this strange 
engagement. Just as the artillerists who served the 
iron thirty-two pounder were loading the gun, a can- 
non-ball struck the ground near the battery. One of 
the Americans ran, and, picking up the spent ball, 
brought it into the battery, saying, " I've been playing 
ball with the redcoats, and have caught them out. 
Let's see now if they can catch back again." So say- 
ing, he rammed the missile down the muzzle of the 
long thirty-two, and sent it back with deadly aim. The 
captured ball crashed into the stern of the *' Royal 
George," raked her from stem to stern, killing four- 
teen men, and wounding eighteen in its course. The 
marksman, watching the course of his .shot, saw the 
splinters fly from the deck of the British ship; and the 
Americans cheered loudly for the " Old Sow " as the 
British squadron put about, and left the Sackett's Har- 
bor people to celebrate their easily won victory. 

One other sharp action occurred before Perry's his- 
toric victory. Early in the autumn of 1812, Commo- 
dore Chauncey, a veteran naval officer, in general com- 
mand on the Great Lakes, had sent Lieutenant Elliott 
to Lake Erie, with instructions to begin at once the 




COMMODORE PERRY 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 175 

creation of a fleet by building or purchasing vessels. 
Elliott chose as the site of his improvised navy-yard 
Black Rock, a point two miles below Buffalo; and 
there pushed ahead his work in a way that soon con- 
vinced the enemy that, unless the young officer's energy 
received a check, British supremacy on Lake Erie would 
soon be at an end. Accordingly two armed brigs, 
the " Caledonia " and the " Detroit," recently cap- 
tured by the British, came down to put an end to the 
Yankee ship-building. Like most of the enemy's ves- 
sels on the lakes, these two brigs were manned by 
Canadians, and had not even the advantage of a regu- 
lar naval commander. 

On the morning of the 8th of October, the sentries 
on the river-side at Black Rock discovered the two 
British vessels lying at anchor under the guns of Fort 
Erie, a British work on the opposite side of the Ni- 
agara River, that there flows placidly along, a stream 
more than a mile wide. Zealous for distinction, and 
determined to checkmate the enemy in their design, 
Elliott resolved to undertake the task of cutting out 
the two vessels from beneath the guns of the British 
fort. Fortune favored his enterprise. It happened 
that on that very day a detachment of sailors from 
the ocean had arrived at Black Rock. Though wearied 
by their long overland journey, the jackies were ready 
for the adventure, but had no weapons. In this di- 
lemma Elliott was forced to turn for aid to the mili- 
tary authorities, from whom he obtained pistols, 
swords, and sabres enough to fit out his sailors for 
the fray. With the arms came a number of soldiers 
and a small party of adventurous citizens, all of whom 
enlisted under the leadership of the adventurous El- 
liott. In planning the expedition, the great difficulty 
lay In getting rid of the too numerous volunteers. 

By nightfall, the preparations for the expedition 



176 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

were completed. In the underbrush that hung over 
the banks of the river, two large boats were concealed, 
ready for the embarkation. At midnight fifty men, 
armed to the teeth, silently took their places in each 
of the great barges, and pushed out upon the black 
surface of the river. All along the bank were crowds 
of eager watchers, who discussed the chances of success 
with bated breath, lest the merest whisper should alarm 
the British sentries on the farther shore. With steady 
strokes of the muffled oars, the two boats made their 
way toward the two brigs that could just be seen 
outlined against the sky. Elliott, in the first boat, di- 
rected the movements of his men, and restrained the 
too enthusiastic. So stealthy was the approach, that 
the foremost boat was fairly alongside of the " De- 
troit " before the British took the alarm. Then the 
quick hail of the sentry brought an answering pistol- 
shot from Elliott; and, amid volleys of musketry, the 
assailants clambered up the sides of the brigs, and with 
pistol and cutlass drove the startled crew below. So 
complete was the surprise, that the British made but 
little resistance; and the cables of the brigs were cut, 
sails spread, and the vessels under way, before the 
thunder of a gun from Fort Erie told that the British 
on shore had taken the alarm. 

At the report of the first shot fired, the dark line 
of the American shore suddenly blazed bright with 
huge beacon fires, while lanterns and torches were 
waved from commanding points to guide the adven- 
turous sailors in their navigation of the captured brigs. 
But the victors were not to escape unscathed with their 
booty. The noise of the conflict, and the shouts of 
the Americans on the distant bank of the river, roused 
the British officers in the fort, and the guns were soon 
trained on the receding vessels. Some field-batteries 
galloped along the bank, and soon had their guns in 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 177 

a position whence they could pour a deadly fire upon 
the Americans. Nor did the spectators on the New 
York side of the river escape unharmed; for the first 
shot fired by the field-battery missed the brigs, but 
crossed the river and struck down an American officer. 
Almost unmanageable in the swift current and light 
wind, the two brigs seemed for a time in danger of 
recapture. The " Caledonia " was run ashore under 
the guns of an American battery; but the " Detroit," 
after being relieved of the prisoners, and deserted by 
her captors, was beached at a point within range of 
the enemy's fire. The British made several determined 
attempts to recapture her, but were beaten off; and, after 
a day's fighting around the vessel, she was set on fire 
and burned to the water's edge. The " Caledonia," 
however, remained to the Americans, and some 
months later did good service against her former 
owners. 

The decisive battle on the Great Lakes, however, 
was that fought at Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie, in which 
the British force was totally destroyed or captured, and 
British power in that section wholly shattered. The 
victory was won by a young naval officer altogether 
unknown to fame and at the outbreak of the war sta- 
tioned at Newport. It was early in the war that 
Olivier Hazard Perry wrote to Commodore Chauncey, 
asking a commission to serve on the lakes. The very 
request showed the unusual character of the man. 
Most officers wished to serve on the ocean where were 
the finest frigates, where captures were many and prize- 
money generous. With apparently prophetic insight 
Perry turned to the lakes. Mail travelled but slowly 
in those days. It was four months before he received 
an answer from Chauncey. Two months more elapsed 
before he received orders from the Navy Department. 
Then in the dead of winter, accompanied only by his 



178 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

brother, a boy in years, he drove from Newport to 
Sackett's Harbor in a sleigh, the journey, which now 
could be made in a night, taking twelve days. 

On his arrival, Perry found that the special service 
for which he was needed was the command of a naval 
force on Lake Erie. He stopped but a short time 
at Sackett's Harbor, and then pressed on to Erie, the 
base of the naval operations on the lake of the same 
name. It was late in March when Perry arrived; and 
the signs of spring already showed that soon the lake 
would be clear of ice, and the struggle for its control 
recommence. The young lieutenant was indefatigable 
in the labor of preparation. He urged on the build- 
ing of vessels already begun. He arranged for the 
purchase of merchant schooners, and their conversion 
into gunboats. He went to Pittsburg for supplies, and 
made a flying trip to Buffalo to join Chauncey in an 
attack upon Fort George at the mouth of the Niagara 
River. All the time, he managed to keep up a con- 
stant fire of letters to the Secretary of the Navy and 
to Chauncey, begging for more sailors. By summer- 
time, he had five vessels ready for service, but no men 
to man them. The enemy blockaded him, and he 
dared not accept the challenge. In July he wrote to 
Chauncey: "The enemy's fleet of six sail are now off 
the bar of this harbor. What a golden opportunity 
if we had men! . . . Give me men, sir, and I will 
acquire both for you and myself honor and glory on 
this lake, or perish in the attempt." Again he wrote: 
" For God's sake, and yours and mine, send me men 
and oflflcers; and I will have them all [the British 
squadron] in a day or two." When the men finally 
did arrive, he was much disgusted with their appear- 
ance, pronouncing them to be *' a motley set, — blacks, 
soldiers, and boys." Nevertheless, this same motley 
crew, headed by the critical young oflicer, won a victory 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 179 

that effectually crushed the pretensions of the enemy 
to the control of Lake Erie. 

His crews having arrived, Perry was anxious to get 
out upon the lake, and engage the enemy at once. But 
this course of action was for a long time impossible. 
The flotilla lay snugly anchored within the harbor of 
Erie, the entrance to which was closed by a bar. To 
cross this bar, the ships would have been obliged to 
send all heavy ordnance ashore; and, as the enemy 
kept close watch outside the harbor, the American fleet 
was practically blockaded. For several weeks the 
Americans were thus kept prisoners, grumbling mightily 
at their enforced inaction, and longing for a chance 
to get at the enemy. One morning in August word 
was brought to Perry that the blockading fleet had dis- 
appeared. Instantly all was life and bustle in the 
harbor. The crews of all the vessels were ordered 
aboard; and the flotilla dropped down to the bar, in- 
tending to cross early in the morning. At dawn the 
movement was begun. The schooners and other small 
craft were easily taken outside; but, when it came to 
the turn of the two gun-brigs, " Lawrence " and " Ni- 
agara," it became evident that mechanical assistance 
was required. Accordingly, a powerful " camel " was 
hastily improvised, by the aid of which the two vessels 
were dragged across the bar. Hardly had the second 
brig made the passage in safety, when the British fleet 
appeared in the offing. Tradition says that the op- 
portune absence of the enemy's fleet was caused by a 
public banquet to which the citizens of Port Dover had 
invited Commodore Barclay and his officers. While 
the dinner was going merrily on, the Americans were 
hard at work, escaping from the trap in which the 
British had left them. In responding to a toast at 
the banquet, Barclay said, " I expect to find the Yankee 
brigs hard and fast on the bar at Erie when I return, 



i8o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

in which predicament it will be but a small job to 
destroy them." His anticipations were not realized; 
for, on his arrival, he found the entire squadron safely 
floating in the deep water outside the bar. 

By night Perry's flotilla was in readiness for cruising, 
and set out immediately in pursuit of the foe. Barclay 
seemed to avoid the conflict; and, after some weeks' 
cruising, the Americans cast anchor at Put-in-Bay, and 
awaited there the appearance of the enemy. 

The little flotilla that lay anchored on the placid 
waters of the picturesque bay consisted of nine vessels, 
ranging in size from the " Trippe," a puny sloop carry- 
ing one gun, to the " Lawrence " and " Niagara," brigs 
carrying each two long twelves and eighteen short 
thirty-twos. No very formidable armada was that of 
a handful of pigmy vessels, commanded by a young 
oflScer who had never heard the thunderous cannonade 
of a naval battle, or seen the decks of his ships stained 
with the blood of friends and daily companions. Yet 
the work of the little squadron saved the United States 
from invasion, won for the young commander a never- 
dying fame, and clothed the vine-clad hills, the pebbly 
beaches, and the crystal waters of Put-in-Bay with a 
wealth of proud, historical associations. 

Day after day the vessels lay idly at their anchorage, 
and the sailors grew restless at the long inactivity. 
Perry alone was patient; for to him had come the 
knowledge that the hostile fleet was getting short of 
supplies, and would soon be starved out of its retreat 
at Maiden. Knowing this, he spared no pains to get 
his men into training for the coming conflict. They 
were exercised daily at the great guns, and put through 
severe drills in the use of the cutlass, in boarding, 
and repelling boarders. By constant drill and severe 
discipline. Perry had made of the motley crew sent 
him a well-drilled body of seamen, every man of whom 



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FOR YOUNG AMERICANS i8i 

had become fired with the enthusiasm of his com- 
mander. 

As the time passed, and the day of battle drew 
nearer, Perry's confidence in his men increased; and 
he looked upon the coming conflict as one certain to 
bring glory to his country. At early dawn the jackies 
on the ships could see the slender form of their com- 
mander perched upon the craggy heights of one of 
the islands, called to this day " Perry's Lookout," 
eagerly scanning the horizon in the direction of Mai- 
den. On the night of September 9, 18 13, the com- 
modore felt convinced that on the next day the British 
would come out to battle. Accordingly, a conference 
of captains was called in the cabin of the flagship, and 
each received directions as to his course of action dur- 
ing the fight. They were urged to force the fighting 
to close quarters. Said Perry, " Nelson has expressed 
my idea in the words, ' If you lay your enemy along- 
side, you cannot be out of your place.' " As the officers 
were about to depart. Perry drew from a locker a 
large, square blue flag, on which appeared, in white 
letters, the dying words of the gallant Lawrence, 
" Don't give up the ship." " This," said Perry, 
"shall be the signal for action; and when it appears 
at the masthead, remember your instructions." The 
conference then ended; and the captains returned to 
their ships across the bay, silvered by the light of the 
moon, to spend the greater part of the night in prepara- 
tions for the great danger of the coming day. 

Morning dawned bright and clear, with a light 
breeze blowing, that broke into ripples the surface of 
the land-locked bay. The rosy light of the rising sun 
was just reddening the eastern horizon, when, from the 
lookout in the foretop of the " Lawrence," came the 
long-drawn hail of " Sail, ho! " quickly repeated from 
the other vessels. 



i82 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Perry was already on deck. " What does it look 
like?" he shouted to the lookout. 

" A clump of square-rigged, and fore and afters, 
sir," was the response. 

In a few minutes the signals " Enemy in sight," and 
" Get under way," were flying from the masthead of 
the flagship; and the merry piping of the boatswains' 
whistles, and the measured tramp of the sailors around 
the capstans, told that signals were observed, and were 
being obeyed. 

The fleet was soon threading its way through the 
narrow channels, filled with islands, at the entrance to 
the bay, and finally came into line on the open lake. 
Not a cloud was in the sky. The lake was calm, with 
enough wind blowing to admit of manoeuvring, yet 
gentle enough to be of advantage to the schooners that 
made up the greater part of each fleet. 

For some time the Americans held back, manoeuvring 
to get the weather-gauge; but Perry's impatience for 
the fray got the better of his caution, and he deter- 
mined to close at once. His first officer remonstrated, 
saying, " Then you'll have to engage the enemy to lee- 
ward." 

" I don't care," responded the commodore. " Lee- 
ward or windward, they shall fight to-day." Then, 
turning to the quartermaster, he called for the battle- 
flag, which being brought, he mustered the crew aft, 
and addressed them briefly, telling them of the task 
before them, and urging them to fight bravely for the 
victory. " My brave lads," he concluded, " this flag 
bears the last words of Captain Lawrence. Shall I 
hoist it?" 

"Ay, ay, sir! " cried the jackies, in unison; and, as 
the flag was swiftly run to the masthead, the cheers 
of the sailors on the deck of the " Lawrence " were 
echoed from the neighboring vessels, as the white let- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 183 

ters showed boldly against the blue flag, bearing to 
each commander the exhortation, " Don't give up the 
ship!" 

The British came on gallantly. Barclay had lost 
all his diffidence, and brought up his vessels like a 
veteran. His ships were kept close together; the ship 
" Detroit " under short sail, that the pigmy sloop " Lit- 
tle Belt " might not be left in the rear. The Americans 
came down in single file, headed by the schooner " Scor- 
pion." Suddenly through the still air rang out the 
sharp notes of a bugle-call on the enemy's flagship. It 
was the signal for action; and, as the last notes died 
away, the bands struck up " Rule, Britannia." The 
Americans answered with cheers; and in the midst of 
the cheering, a jet of smoke and fire spurted from the 
side of the " Detroit," and a heavy shot splashed into 
the water near the " Lawrence," while a dull, heavy 
report came booming over the water. 

The battle was opened, but five minutes elapsed be- 
fore a second shot was fired. When it did come, it 
crashed through the bulwarks of the " Lawrence," and 
sped across her deck, doing no great damage. " Steady, 
lads, steady ! " cried Perry, from his post on the quarter- 
deck, as he saw an uneasy stir among his men, who 
longed to return the fire. The commodore was deter- 
mined to fight at close quarters, and hung out signals 
for each ship to choose its antagonist, and fight the 
fight out for itself. 

It was then high noon, and the battle soon became 
general. The little schooners " Scorpion " and 
" Ariel " pluckily kept their place in the van of the 
American line, but the fire of the enemy fell most 
fiercely upon the flagship " Lawrence." No less than 
four vessels at one time were grouped about the " Law- 
rence," pouring in a destructive fire, and bent upon 
destroying the flagship and her brave commander; then 



i84 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

taking the smaller vessels in detail. The " Lawrence " 
fought bravely, but the odds were too great. The 
carronades with which she was armed were no match 
for the long guns of her adversaries. For two hours 
the unequal combat raged, and no American vessel 
came to the aid of the sorely smitten flagship. Amid 
the hail of cannon-balls and bullets, Perry seemed to 
bear a charmed life. He saw his officers and men fall- 
ing all about him. John Brooks, the lieutenant of 
marines, fought by the commodore's side. While 
speaking cheerfully to the commodore, a cannon-ball 
struck the young lieutenant on the hip, dashing him 
across the deck against the bulwark, and mutilating 
him so, that he plead piteously with Perry, imploring 
that he might be put out of his misery with a pistol- 
shot. From this awful spectacle Perry turned to speak 
to the captain of a gun, when the conversation was 
abruptly cut short by a shot which killed the seaman 
instantly. Perry returned to the quarter-deck. The 
first lieutenant came rushing up, his face bloody, and 
his nose swelled to an enormous size from a splinter 
which had perforated it. " All the officers in my divi- 
sion are killed," he cried. " For God's sake, give me 
more!" Perry sent some men to his aid; but they 
soon fell, and the cry for more men arose again. One 
of the surgeons who served in the cockpit on that dread- 
ful day states that, in the midst of the roar of battle. 
Perry's voice was heard calling down the hatchway, 
and asking any surgeon's mates who could be spared, 
to come on deck and help work the guns. Several 
went up; but the appeal was soon repeated, and more 
responded. When no more men could be obtained, 
the voice of the commodore took a pleading tone. 
" Can any of the wounded pull a rope? " said he; and 
such was his ascendency over the men, that several 
poor mangled fellows dragged themselves on deck, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 185 

and lent their feeble strength to the working of the 
guns. 

Amid all the carnage, the sailors were quick to notice 
the lighter incidents of the fray. Even the cockpit, 
filled with the wounded, and reeking with blood that 
dripped through the cracks in the deck above, once re- 
sounded with laughter as hearty as ever greeted a 
middy's after-dinner joke in the steerage. Lieutenant 
Yarnall received a bad scalp-wound, which fairly 
drenched his face with blood. As he groped his way 
towards the cockpit, he passed a lot of hammocks 
stuffed with " cat-tails " which had been stowed on the 
bulwarks. The feathery down of the " cat-tails " filled 
the air, and settled thick upon the head and face of 
the officer, robbing his countenance of all semblance 
to a human face. As he descended the ladder to the 
cockpit, his owl-like air roused the wounded to great 
shouts of laughter. " The Devil has come among us," 
they cried. 

While talking to his little brother. Perry to his hor- 
ror saw the lad fall at his feet, dashed to the deck by 
an unseen missile. The commodore's agony may be 
imagined; but it was soon assuaged, for the boy was 
only stunned, and was soon fighting again at his post. 
The second lieutenant was struck by a spent grape-shot, 
and fell stunned upon the deck. He lay there for a 
time, unnoticed. Perry raised him up, telling him 
he was not hurt, as no blood could be seen. The lieu- 
tenant put his hand to his clothing, at the point where 
the blow had fallen, and discovered the shot lodged 
in his coat. Coolly putting it in his pocket, he re- 
marked, "You are right: I am not hurt. But this is 
my shot," and forthwith returned to his duty. 

It was a strange-looking body of men that fought 
at the guns of the " Lawrence." Lean, angular Yan- 
kee sailors from the seafaring communities of New 



i86 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

England stood by the side of swarthy negroes, who, 
with their half-naked black bodies, in the dense powder- 
smoke, seemed like fiends in pandemonium. In the 
rigging were stationed a number of Kentucky riflemen, 
who had volunteered to serve during the battle. The 
buckskin shirts and leggings gave an air of incongruity 
to their presence on a man-of-war. Their unerring 
rifles, however, did brave service for the cause of the 
Stars and Stripes. At the opening of the action, two 
tall Indians, decked in all the savage finery of war- 
paint and feathers, strode the deck proudly. But water 
is not the Indian's element, and the battle had hardly 
begun when one fled below in terror; the other remained 
on deck, and was killed early in the action. 

Courageous and self-confident though the American 
commander was, the moment came when he could no 
longer disguise the fact that his gallant flagship was 
doomed to destruction before the continuous and deadly 
fire of her adversaries. There was but one course of 
action open, and upon this he determined at once. He 
would transfer his flag to the " Niagara," and from 
the deck of that vessel direct the movements of his 
fleet. Accordingly, the only uninjured boat of the 
"Lawrence" was lowered; and Perry sprang into the 
stern, followed by his little brother. Before the boat 
pushed off, the battle-flag was thrown into her; and, 
wrapping it about him. Perry took a standing position 
in the stern, and ordered the oarsmen to give way. 
He steered straight for the " Niagara," through the 
very centre of the fight. The enemy quickly grasped 
the purpose of the movement, and great guns and mus- 
kets were trained on the little boat. Shot of all sizes 
splashed in the water about the boat, splintered the 
oars, and buried themselves in the gunwale. The 
crew begged their commander to sit down, and make 
himself a less conspicuous target for the fire of the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 187 

enemy; but Perry paid but little attention to their en- 
treaties. Suddenly the men rested on the oars, and 
the boat stopped. Angrily the commodore demanded 
the cause of the stoppage, and was told that the men 
refused to row unless he sat down. With a smile he 
yielded, and soon the boat was alongside the " Ni- 
agara." Perry sprang to the deck, followed by his 
boat's crew and a plucky sailor who had swam just 
behind the boat across the long stretch of water. 
Hardly a glance did the commodore cast at the ship 
which he had left, but bent all his faculties to taking 
the new flagship into the battle. 

The "Niagara" was practically a fresh ship; for, 
up to this time, she had held strangely aloof from the 
battle. Now all was to be changed. The battle-flag 
went to her masthead; and she plunged into the thick 
of the fight, striking thunderous blows at every ship 
she encountered. As she passed the American lines, 
the sailors greeted with cheers their gallant commander. 
The crippled " Lawrence," an almost helpless hulk, 
left far behind, was forced to strike her flag; although 
her crew protested loudly, crying out, " Sink the ship, 
and let us go down with her." But the conquered 
vessel was not destined to fall into the hands of her 
enemies. Already the sight of their commodore on 
a fresh vessel stimulated the American tars; so that in 
half an hour the British line was broken, their ships 
cut to pieces, and the " Detroit," their flagship, a prize 
to the " Niagara." A white handkerchief was waved 
at the end of a pike by one of the crew of the " Princess 
Charlotte." The firing stopped, the flag was again 
run up to the masthead of the " Lawrence," while a 
few feeble cheers came faintly over the water from the 
remnant of her crew. 

The dense clouds of smoke blowing away. Perry 
saw, by the disposition of his squadron, that the victory 



i88 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

was secure. Hastily catching off his navy-cap, he laid 
upon it a sheet of paper torn from an old letter, and 
wrote to General Harrison the famous dispatch, " We 
have met the enemy, and they are ours, — two ships, two 
brigs, one schooner, and one sloop." 

Then, with true chivalry, he determined that to his 
flagship " Lawrence," that had so stoutly borne the 
brunt of battle, should belong the honor of receiving 
the British captains, when they came to surrender their 
vessels. He returned to the " Lawrence " ; but the 
scene there was such that even the excitement of victory 
could raise no feelings of exultation in his breast. He 
saw on every side the bodies of officers with whom, 
but the night before, he had dined in perfect health. 
The decks were red with blood, and from the cockpit 
arose the groans of the wounded. 

After the formal surrender, to make which the offi- 
cers picked their way over the deck covered with slain 
to the quarter-deck, the work of burying the dead of 
both squadrons was begun. It was about sundown 
that the sad ceremonies were held; and, as the deep 
tones of the chaplains reading the burial-service arose 
upon the evening air, the dull, mournful splashing of 
heavy bodies in the water told that the last scene in 
the great victory was drawing to an end. 

After this glorious victory the war languished on 
the lakes; indeed, on Lakes Erie and Ontario it was 
virtually closed, nothing more occurring except a few 
raids and some futile challenges to battle between 
Chauncey and Sir James Yeo. But almost a year to 
a day after the Battle of Put-in-Bay a second victory 
was won for the American arms on Lake Champlain 
— a victory which naval authorities agree was no less 
notable, no less heroic, than that of Perry. 

In the northeast corner of New York State, and 
slightly overlapping the Canada line, lies Lake Cham- 






I ^ ] 






c5^' 



■^^1^ ^/^V. ^.^n^tr- 



PERRY'S DISPATCH TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 189 

plain, — a picturesque sheet of water, narrow, and 
dotted with wooded islands. From the northern end 
of the lake flows the Richelieu River, which follows 
a straight course through Canada to the St. Lawrence, 
into which it empties. The long, navigable waterway 
thus open from Canada to the very heart of New York 
was to the British a most tempting path for an in- 
vading expedition. By the shore of the lake a road 
wound along; thus smoothing the way for a land force, 
whose advance might be protected by the fire of the 
naval force that should proceed up the lake. Naturally, 
so admirable an international highway early attracted 
the attention of the military authorities of both bel- 
ligerents; and, while the British pressed forward their 
preparations for an invading expedition, the Americans 
hastened to make such arrangements as should give 
them control of the lake. Her European wars, how- 
ever, made so great a demand for soldiers upon Great 
Britain, that not until 18 14 could she send to America 
a sufficient force to undertake the invasion of the 
United States from the north. In the spring of that 
year, a force of from ten thousand to fifteen thousand 
troops, including several thousand veterans who had 
served under Wellington, were massed at Montreal; 
and in May a move was made by the British to get 
control of the lake, before sending their invading forces 
into New York. The British naval force already in 
the Richelieu River, and available for service, consisted 
of a brig, two sloops, and twelve or fourteen gunboats. 
The American flotilla included a large corvette, a 
schooner, a small sloop, and ten gunboats, or galleys, 
propelled with oars. Seeing that the British were 
preparing for active hostilities, the Americans began 
to build, with all possible speed, a large brig; a move 
which the enemy promptly met by pushing forward 
with equal energy the construction of a frigate. While 



I90 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the new vessels were on the stocks, an Irregular warfare 
was carried on by those already in commission. At 
the opening of the season, the American vessels lay 
in Otter Creek; and, just as they were ready to leave 
port, the enemy appeared off the mouth of the creek 
with a force consisting of the brig " Linnet " and eight 
or ten galleys. The object of the British was to so 
obstruct the mouth of the creek that the Americans 
should be unable to come out. With this end in view, 
they had brought two sloops laden with stones, which 
they intended to sink in the narrow channel. But, 
luckily, the Americans had thrown up earthworks at 
the mouth of the river; and a party of sailors 
so worked the guns, that, after much manoeuvring, the 
British were forced to retire without effecting their 
purpose. 

About the middle of August, the Americans launched 
their new brig, the "Eagle"; and the little squadron 
put out at once into the lake, under command of Cap- 
tain Thomas Macdonough. Eight days later, the 
British got their new ship, the " Confiance," into the 
water. She possessed one feature new to American 
naval architecture,— a furnace in which to heat cannon- 
balls. 

By this time (September, 1814) the invading column 
of British veterans, eleven thousand strong, had begun 
its march into New York along the west shore of the 
lake. Two thousand Americans only could be gath- 
ered to dispute their progress; and these, under the 
command of Brigadier-General Macomb, were gath- 
ered at Plattsburg. To this point, accordingly, Mac- 
donough took his fleet, and awaited the coming of the 
enemy; knowing that if he could beat back the fleet 
of the British, their land forces, however powerful, 
would be forced to cease their advance. The fleet 
that he commanded consisted of the flagship " Sara- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 191 

toga," carrying eight long twenty-four-poundcrs, six 
forty-two-pound, and twelve thirty-two-pound carron- 
ades; the brig " Eagle," carrying eight long eighteens, 
and twelve thirty-two-pound carronades; schooner " Ti- 
condcroga," with eight long twelve-pounders, four long 
eighteen-pounders, and five thirty-two-pound carron- 
ades; sloop "Preble," with seven long nines; and ten 
galleys. The commander who ruled over this fleet 
was a man still in his twenty-ninth year. The success- 
ful battles of the War of 18 12 were fought by young 
officers, and the battle of Lake Champlain was no 
exception to the rule. 

The British force which came into battle with Mac- 
donough's fleet was slightly superior. It was headed 
by the flagship " Confiance," a frigate of the class of 
the United States ship " Constitution," carrying thirty 
long twenty-fours, a long twenty-four-poundcr on a 
pivot, and six thirty-two or forty-two-pound carronades. 
The other vessels were the " Linnet," a brig mounting 
sixteen long twelves; and the " Chubb " and " Finch" 
(captured from the Americans under the names of 
"Growler" and " Eagle "),— sloops carrying respec- 
tively ten eighteen-pound carronades and one long six; 
and six eighteen-pound carronades, four long sixes, and 
one short eighteen. To these were added twelve gun- 
boats, with varied armaments, but each slightly heavier 
than the American craft of the same class. 

The iith of September had been chosen by the 
British for the combined land and water attack upon 
Plattsburg. With the movements of the land forces, 
this narrative will not deal. The brunt of the conflict 
fell upon the naval forces, and it was the success of 
the Americans upon the water that turned the faces 
of the British invaders back toward Canada. 

The village of Plattsburg stands upon the shore of 
a broad bay which communicates with Lake Champlain 



192 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

by an opening a mile and a half wide, bounded upon 
the north by Cumberland Head, and on the south by 
Crab Island. In this bay, about two miles from the 
western shore, Macdonough's fleet lay anchored in 
double line, stretching north and south. The four 
large vessels were in the front rank, prepared to meet 
the brunt of the conflict; while the galleys formed a 
second line in the rear. The morning of the day of 
battle dawned clear, with a brisk northeast wind blow- 
ing. The British were stirring early, and at daybreak 
weighed anchor and came down the lake. Across the 
low-lying isthmus that connected Cumberland Head 
with the mainland, the Americans could see their ad- 
versaries' top-masts as they came down to do battle. 
At this sight, Macdonough called his oflicers about him, 
and, kneeling upon the quarter-deck, besought Divine 
aid in the conflict so soon to come. When the little 
group rose from their knees, the leading ship of the 
enemy was seen swinging round Cumberland Head; 
and the men went to their quarters to await the fiery 
trial that all knew was impending. 

The position of the American squadron was such 
that the British were forced to attack " bows on," thus 
exposing themselves to a raking fire. By means of 
springs on their cables, the Americans were enabled to 
keep their broadsides to the enemy, and thus improve, 
to the fullest, the advantage gained by their position. 
The British came on gallantly, and were greeted by 
four shots from the long eighteens of the " Eagle," 
that had no effect. But, at the sound of the cannon, 
a young game-cock that was running at large on the 
" Saratoga " flew upon a gun, flapped his wings, and 
crowed thrice, with so lusty a note that he was heard 
far over the waters. The American seamen, thus 
roused from the painful reverie into which the bravest 
fall before going into action, cheered lustily, and went 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 193 

into the fight, encouraged as only sailors could be by 
the favorable omen. 

Soon after the defiant game-cock had thus cast down 
the gage of battle, Macdonough sighted and fired the 
first shot from one of the long twenty-four-pounders 
of the " Saratoga." The heavy ball crashed into the 
bow of the " Confiance," and cut its way aft, killing 
and wounding several men, and demolishing the wheel. 
Nothing daunted, the British flagship came on grandly, 
making no reply, and seeking only to cast anchor along- 
side the " Saratoga," and fight it out yard-arm to yard- 
arm. But the fire of the Americans was such that she 
could not choose her distance; but after having been 
badly cut up, with both her port anchors shot away, 
was forced to anchor at a distance of a quarter of a 
mile. But her anchor had hardly touched bottom, 
when she suddenly flashed out a sheet of flames, as her 
rapid broadsides rung out and her red-hot shot sped 
over the water toward the American flagship. Her 
first broadside killed or wounded forty of the Amer- 
icans; while many more were knocked down by the 
shock, but sustained no further injury. So great was 
the carnage, that the hatches were opened, and the dead 
bodies passed below, that the men might have room 
to work the guns. Among the slain was Mr. Gamble, 
the first lieutenant, who was on his knees sighting a 
gun, when a shot entered the port, split the quoin, 
drove a great piece of metal against his breast, and 
stretched him dead upon the deck without breaking 
his skin. By a singular coincidence, fifteen minutes 
later a shot from one of the " Saratoga's " guns struck 
the muzzle of a twenty-four on the " Confiance," and, 
dismounting it, hurled it against Captain Downie's 
groin, killing him instantly without breaking the skin; 
a black mark about the size of a small plate was the 
sole visible injury. 



194 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

In the meantime, the smaller vessels had become en- 
gaged, and were fighting with no less courage than the 
flagships. The " Chubb " had early been disabled by 
a broadside from the " Eagle," and drifted helplessly 
under the guns of the " Saratoga." After receiving 
a shot from that vessel, she struck, and was taken pos- 
session of by Midshipman Piatt, who put off from the 
flagship in an open boat, boarded the prize, and took 
her into Plattsburg Bay, near the mouth of the Saranac. 
More than half her people were killed or wounded 
during the short time she was in the battle. The 
" Linnet," in the meantime, had engaged the " Eagle," 
and poured in her broadsides with such effect that the 
springs on the cables of the American were cut away, 
and she could no longer bring her broadsides to bear. 
Her captain therefore cut his cables, and soon gained 
a position from which he could bring his guns to bear 
upon the " Confiance." The " Linnet " thereupon 
dashed in among the American gunboats, and, driving 
them off, commenced a raking fire upon the " Sara- 
toga." The " Finch," meanwhile, had ranged gal- 
lantly up alongside the " Ticonderoga," but was sent 
out of the fight by two broadsides from the American. 
She drifted helplessly before the wind, and soon 
grounded near Crab Island. On the island was a 
hospital, and an abandoned battery mounting one six- 
pound gun. Some of the convalescent patients, seeing 
the enemy's vessel within range, opened fire upon her 
from the battery, and soon forced her to haul down 
her flag. Nearly half her crew were killed or wounded. 
Almost at the same moment, the United States sloop 
" Preble " was forced out of the fight by the British 
gunboats, that pressed so fiercely upon her that she 
cut her cables and drifted inshore. 

The " Ticonderoga " fought a gallant fight through- 
out. After ridding herself of the " Finch," she had 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 195 

a number of the British gunboats to contend with; and 
they pressed forward to the attack with a gallantry 
that showed them to be conscious of the fact that, if 
this vessel could be carried, the American line would 
be turned, and the day won by the English. But the 
American schooner fought stubbornly. Her gallant 
commander. Lieutenant Cassin, walked up and down 
the taffrail, heedless of the grape and musket-balls that 
whistled past his head, pointing out to the gunners the 
spot whereon to train the guns, and directing them to 
load with canister and bags of bullets when the enemy 
came too near. The gunners of the schooner were 
terribly hampered in their work by the lack of matches 
for the guns; for the vessel was new, and the absence 
of these very essential articles was unnoticed until too 
late. The guns of one division were fired throughout 
the fight by Hiram Paulding, a sixteen-year-old-mid- 
shipman, who flashed his pistol at the priming of the 
guns as soon as aim was taken. When no gun was 
ready for his services, he rammed a ball into his weapon 
and discharged it at the enemy. The onslaught of 
the British was spirited and determined. Often they 
pressed up within a boat-hook's length of the schooner, 
only to be beaten back by her merciless fire. Some- 
times so few were left alive in the galleys that they 
could hardly man the oars to pull out of the fight. 
In this v/ay the " Ticonderoga " kept her enemies at 
bay while the battle was being decided between the 
" Saratoga " and the " Confiance." 

For it was upon the issue of the conflict between these 
two ships that victory or defeat depended. Each had 
her ally and satellite. Under the stern of the " Sara- 
toga " lay the " Linnet," pouring in raking broadsides. 
The " Confiance," in turn, was suffering from the well- 
directed fire of the " Eagle." The roar of the ar- 
tillery was unceasing, and dense clouds of gunpowder- 



196 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

smoke hid the warring ships from the eyes of the 
eager spectators on shore. The " Confiance " was un- 
fortunate in losing her gallant captain early in the 
action, while Macdonough was spared to fight his ship 
to the end. His gallantry and activity, however, led 
him to expose himself fearlessly; and twice he nar- 
rowly escaped death. He worked like a common 
sailor, loading and firing a favorite twenty-four-pound 
gun; and once, while on his knees, sighting the piece, 
a shot from the " Confiance " cut in two the spanker- 
boom, a great piece of which fell heavily upon the 
captain's head, stretching him senseless upon the deck. 
He lay motionless for two or three minutes, and his 
men mourned him as dead; but suddenly his activity 
returned, and he leaped to his feet, and was soon again 
in the thick of the fight. In less than five minutes 
the cry again, arose, that the captain was killed. He 
had been standing at the breach of his favorite cannon, 
when a round shot took off the head of the captain of 
the gun, and dashed it with terrific force into the face 
of Macdonough, who was driven across the deck, and 
hurled against the bulwarks. He lay an instant, cov- 
ered with the blood of the slain man; but, hearing his 
men cry that he was killed, he rushed among them, 
to cheer them on with his presence. 

And, indeed, at this moment the crew of the " Sara- 
toga " needed the presence of their captain to cheer 
them on to further exertion. The red-hot shot of the 
" Confiance " had twice set fire to the American ship. 
The raking fire from the " Linnet " had dismounted 
carronades and long guns one by one, until but a single 
serviceable gun was left in the starboard battery. A 
too heavy charge dismounted this piece, and threw it 
down the hatchway, leaving the frigate without a single 
gun bearing upon the enemy. In such a plight the 
hearts of the crew might well fail them. But Mac- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 197 

donough was ready for the emergency. He still had 
his port broadside untouched, and he at once set to 
work to swing the ship round so that this battery could 
be brought to bear. An anchor was let fall astern, 
and the whole ship's company hauled in on the hawser, 
swinging the ship slowly around. It was a dangerous 
manceuvre; for, as the ship veered round, her stern 
was presented to the " Linnet," affording an oppor- 
tunity for raking, which the gunners on that plucky 
little vessel immediately improved. But patience and 
hard pulling carried the day; and gradually the heavy 
frigate was turned sufficiently for the after gun to bear, 
and a gun's crew was at once called from the hawsers 
to open fire. One by one the guns swung into position, 
and soon the whole broadside opened with a roar. 

Meanwhile the " Confiance " had attempted the 
same manoeuvre. But her anchors were badly placed; 
and, though her people worked gallantly, they failed to 
get the ship round. She bore for some time the effect- 
ive fire from the " Saratoga's " fresh broadside, but, 
finding that she could in no way return the fire, struck 
her flag, two hours and a quarter after the battle com- 
menced. Beyond giving a hasty cheer, the people of 
the " Saratoga " paid little attention to the surrender 
of their chief enemy, but instantly turned their guns 
upon the " Linnet." In this combat the " Eagle " 
could take no part, and the thunder of her guns died 
away. Farther down the bay, the " Ticonderoga " 
had just driven away the last of the British galleys; so 
that the " Linnet " now alone upheld the cause of the 
enemy. She was terribly outmatched by her heavier 
foe, but her gallant Captain Pring kept up a desperate 
defence. Her masts and rigging were hopelessly shat- 
tered; and no course was open to her, save to surrender, 
or fight a hopeless fight. Captain Pring sent off a 
lieutenant, in an open boat, to ascertain the condition 



198 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of the " Confiance." The officer returned with the 
report that Captain Downie was killed, and the frigate 
terribly cut up; and as by this time the water, pouring 
in the shot-holes in the " Linnet's " hull, had risen a 
foot above the lower deck, her flag was hauled down, 
and the battle ended in a decisive triumph for the 
Americans. 

Terrible was the carnage, and many and strange the 
incidents, of this most stubbornly contested naval battle. 
All of the prizes were in sinking condition. In the 
hull of the " Confiance " were a hundred and five shot- 
holes, while the " Saratoga " was pierced by fifty-five. 
Not a mast that would bear canvas was left standing in 
the British fleet; those of the flagship were splintered 
like bundles of matches, and the sails torn to rags. On 
most of the enemy's vessels, more than half of the 
crews were killed or wounded. The loss on the British 
side probably aggregated three hundred. Midship- 
man William Lee of the " Confiance " wrote home 
after the battle, " The havoc on both sides was dread- 
ful. I don't think there are more than five of our 
men, out of three hundred, but what are killed or 
wounded. Never was a shower of hail so thick as the 
shot whistling about our ears. Were you to see my 
jacket, waistcoat, and trousers, you would be astonished 
to know how I escaped as I did; for they are literally 
torn all to rags with shot and splinters. The upper 
part of my hat was also shot away. There is one of 
the marines who was in the Trafalgar action with 
Lord Nelson, who says it was a mere flea-bite in com- 
parison with this." 

The Americans, though victorious, had suffered 
greatly. Their loss amounted to about two hundred 
men. The " Saratoga " had been cut up beyond the 
possibility of repair. Her decks were covered with 
dead and dying. The shot of the enemy wrought ter- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 199 

rible havoc In the ranks of the American officers. Lieu- 
tenant Stansbury of the " Ticonderoga " suddenly dis- 
appeared In the midst of the action; nor could any 
trace of him be found, until, two days later, his body, 
cut nearly in two by a round shot, rose from the waters 
of the lake. Lieutenant Vallette of the " Saratoga " 
was knocked down by the head of a sailor, sent flying 
by a cannon-ball. Some minutes later he was stand- 
ing on a shot-box giving orders, when a shot took the 
box from beneath his feet, throwing him heavily upon 
the deck. Mr. Brum, the master, a veteran man-o'- 
war's man, was struck by a huge splinter, which knocked 
him down, and actually stripped every rag of clothing 
from his body. He was thought to be dead, but soon 
reappeared at his post, with a strip of canvas about 
his waist, and fought bravely until the end of the action. 
Some days before the battle, a gentleman of Oswego 
gave one of the sailors a glazed tarpaulin hat, of the 
kind then worn by seamen. A week later the sailor 
reappeared, and, handing him the hat with a semi- 
circular cut in the crown and brim, made while it was 
on his head by a cannon-shot, remarked calmly, " Look 
here, Mr. Sloane, how the damned John Bulls have 
spoiled my hat ! " 

The last British flag having been hauled down, an 
officer was sent to take possession of the " Confiance." 
In walking along her gun-deck, he accidentally ran 
against a ratline, by which one of her starboard guns 
was discharged. At this sound, the British galleys and 
gunboats, which had been lying quietly with their en- 
signs down, got out oars and moved off up the lake. 
The Americans had no vessels fit for pursuing them, 
and they were allowed to escape. In the afternoon 
the British officers came to the American flagship to 
complete the surrender. Macdonough met them 
courteously; and, on their offering their swords, put 



200 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

them back, saying, " Gentlemen, your gallant conduct 
makes you worthy to wear your weapons. Return 
them to their scabbords." By sundown the surrender 
was complete, and Macdonough sent off to the Secre- 
tary of the Navy a dispatch, saying, " Sir, — The Al- 
mighty has been pleased to grant us a signal victory 
on Lake Champlain, in the capture of one frigate, one 
brig, and two sloops-of-war of the enemy." 

Some days later, the captured ships, being beyond 
repair, were taken to the head of the lake, and scuttled. 
Some of the guns were found to be still loaded; and. 
In drawing the charges, one gun was found with a 
canvas bag containing two round shot rammed home, 
and wadded, without any powder; another gun con- 
tained two cartridges and no shot; and a third had a 
wad rammed down before the powder, thus effectually 
preventing the discharge of the piece. The American 
gunners were not altogether guiltless of carelessness 
of this sort. Their chief error lay in ramming down 
so many shot upon the powder that the force of the 
explosion barely carried the missiles to the enemy. In 
proof of this, the side of the " Confiance " was thickly 
dotted with round shot, which had struck into, but 
failed to penetrate, the wood. 

The result of this victory was immediate and grati- 
fying. The land forces of the British, thus deprived 
of their naval auxiliaries, turned about, and retreated 
to Canada, abandoning forever their projected invasion. 
New York was thus saved by Macdonough's skill and 
bravery. Yet the fame he won by his victory was not 
nearly proportionate to the naval ability he showed, 
and the service he had rendered to his country. Before 
the popular adulation of Perry, Macdonough sinks into 
second place. One historian only gives him the pre- 
eminence that is undoubtedly his due. Says Mr. Theo- 
dore Roosevelt, in his admirable history, " The Naval 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 201 

War of 18 12 ": " But Macdonough in this battle won 
a higher fame than any other commander of the war, 
British or American. He had a decidedly superior 
force to contend against, and it was solely owing to 
his foresight and resource that we won the victory. 
He forced the British to engage at a disadvantage by 
his excellent choice of position, and he prepared before- 
hand for every possible contingency. His personal 
prowess had already been shown at the cost of the 
rovers of Tripoli, and in this action he helped fight 
the guns as ably as the best sailor. His skill, seaman- 
ship, quick eye, readiness of resource, and indomitable 
pluck are beyond all praise. Down to the time of the 
civil war, he is the greatest figure in our naval history. 
A thoroughly religious man, he was as generous and 
humane as he was skilful and brave. One of the 
greatest of our sea captains, he has left a stainless name 
behind him." 



CHAPTER XII 

The " Hornet " and " Peacock " — Escape of the " Constellation " — 
Cruise of the " President " — " Chesapeake " and " Shannon " — 
" Argus " and " Pelican " — " Enterprise " and " Boxer." 

The year 1813 which saw such a decisive victory for 
the Americans on Lake Erie won for them no glory 
on the ocean. The war there languished. Such as 
it was the honors rested with the British. Their fleets 
were engaged in blockading ports, or raiding and burn- 
ing villages. In the few battles between the smaller 
craft of both belligerents the honors were about even, 
but in the one frigate duel the American ship was de- 
feated — not disgracefully, but decisively. Before de- 
scribing the battle between the " Chesapeake " and 
" Shannon " we may well survey hastily the lesser 
events of the year — a series of pin-pricks which did 
much to irritate the American people, but which had 
little to do with the outcome of the war. 

Early in the year the " Hornet " was blockading 
an English treasure-ship at San Salvador. Chased 
away from this station by a British seventy-four she 
soon fell in with an enemy's man-of-war, the brig 
" Peacock," of a weight of metal about equal to her 
own, mounting ten guns and carrying a crew of two 
hundred and ten men. 

The " Hornet " was immediately cleared for action; 
and the two hostile vessels began manoeuvring for the 
weather-gage, as two scientific pugilists spar cautiously 
for an opening. In this contest of seamanship, Cap- 
tain Lawrence of the "Hornet" proved the victor; 
and a little after five o'clock in the afternoon, the two 
enemies stood for each other upon the wind, the " Hor- 

202 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 203 

net " having the weather-gage. Not a shot was fired 
until the enemies were dashing past each other, going 
in opposite directions. The first broadsides were ex- 
changed at half pistol-shot, with very unequal effects. 
The shot of the " Hornet " penetrated the hull of her 
antagonist, doing terrible execution; while the broadside 
let fly by the *' Peacock " whistled through the rigging 
of the American ship, cutting away the pennant, and 
killing a topman, who was struck by a round shot, and 
dashed from his station in the mizzen-top, to fall 
mangled and lifeless into the sea. 

Hardly were the ships clear, when the British cap- 
tain put his helm hard up, — a manoeuvre executed with 
the intention of securing a raking position. But the 
plan was balked by the cool seamanship of Captain 
Lawrence, who quickly followed up the British vessel, 
and, getting a position on his quarter, poured in so 
rapid and accurate a fire that the enemy was fain to 
haul down his colors and confess defeat. The British 
ensign had hardly touched the deck, when it was run 
up again, with the union down, as a token of distress. 
At this sight the Yankee tars, who had been cheering 
lustily over their quickly won victory, stopped their 
rejoicings, and set about assistance to the injured Brit- 
ons with as hearty good-will as they had lately shown 
in their vigorous cannonade. 

With all possible dispatch, a boat was lowered, and 
Lieutenant Shubrick proceeded on board the prize. He 
found the " Peacock " a complete wreck. Shortly after 
the surrender her main-mast had gone by the board, 
and her hull was fairly honeycombed with shot-holes. 
Returning to his ship, Shubrick reported the condition 
of the prize. He was immediately ordered to return 
to the " Peacock," and make every effort to save her. 
Accompanied by three boats' crews of American sailors, 
he again boarded the sinking ship, and bent every 



204 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

energy to the attempt for her salvation. Bulwarks 
were cut away, and the heavy guns were rolled out of 
the gaps thus made, and cast Into the sea. Deep down 
in the hold, and swinging like spiders over the sides 
of the vessels, sailors tried to stop up with felt-covered 
blocks of wood the great holes through which the water 
was pouring. All the time boats were plying between 
the sinking vessel and the " Hornet," transferring the 
wounded and the prisoners. Twilight fell before the 
work was ended, and it became evident to all that the 
" Peacock " must sink during the night. 

In one respect the " Peacock " was a model ship. 
Among naval men she had long been known as " the 
yacht," on account of the appearance of exquisite neat- 
ness she always presented. Her decks were as white 
as lime-juice and constant holystoning could keep them. 
The brass-work about the cabins and the breeches of 
the guns was dazzling in its brilliancy. White canvas 
lined the breechings of the carronades. Her decks 
everywhere showed signs of constant toil in the cause 
of cleanliness. The result of the battle, however, 
seemed to indicate that Captain Peakes had erred, in 
that, while his ship was perfect, his men were bad 
marksmen, and poorly disciplined. While their shot 
were harmlessly passing through the rigging of the 
" Hornet," the Americans wer6 pouring in well-directed 
broadsides, that killed and wounded thirty-eight men, 
and ended the action in fifteen minutes. The Amer- 
icans lost but one man in the fight, though three more 
went down in the sinking prize. 

This American success was offset, however, in the 
same month by the loss of the brig " Viper," twelve 
guns, to the British thirty-two " Narcissus." 

Meanwhile, the British fleets, now much augmented, 
were blockading the American coast from New England 
to Chesapeake Bay. Among the men-of-war they 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 205 

trapped in port was the " Constellation," one of the 
three " lucky " ships of the young navy. She was at 
the opening of the war the favorite ship of the Amer- 
ican navy; her exploits in the war with France having 
endeared her to the American people, and won for her 
among Frenchmen the name of " the Yankee race- 
horse." Notwithstanding her reputation for speed, 
she is said to have been very crank, and had an awk- 
ward way of getting on her beam-ends without much 
provocation. An almost incredible tale is told of her 
getting " knocked down " by a squall while chasing 
a French privateer, and, notwithstanding the delay, 
finally overhauling and capturing the chase. 

When war was declared with England, the *' Con- 
stellation " was so thoroughly dismantled, that some 
months were occupied in refitting before she was ready 
to put to sea. In January, 18 13, she dropped anchor 
in Hampton Roads, expecting to set out on an extended 
cruise the next morning. Had she been a day earlier, 
her career in the War of 1812 might have added new 
lustre to her glorious record in the war with France; 
but the lack of that day condemned her to inglorious 
inactivity throughout the war: for on that very night 
a British squadron of line-of-battle ships and frigates 
dropped anchor a few miles down the bay, and the 
" Constellation " was fairly trapped. 

When, by the gray light of early morning, the look- 
out on the " Constellation " saw the British fleet lying 
quietly at their anchorage down the bay, he reported 
to Captain Stewart; and the latter saw that, for a time, 
he must be content to remain in port. Stewart's repu- 
tation for bravery and devotion to his country leaves 
no doubt that the prospect of prolonged idleness was 
most distasteful to him. But he had little time to 
mourn over his disappointment. The position of the 
frigate was one of great danger. At any moment she 



2o6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

might be exposed to attack by the hostile fleet. Ac- 
cordingly, she dropped down abreast of Craney Island, 
where she was secure from attack by the British vessels, 
but still open to the assaults of their boats. 

To meet this danger, Captain Stewart took the most 
elaborate precautions. His ship was anchored in the 
middle of the narrow channel; and on either side were 
anchored seven gunboats, officered and manned by the 
men of the frigate. Around the gunboats and frigate 
extended a vast circle of floating logs, linked together 
by heavy chains, that no boarders might come along- 
side the vessels. The great frigate towered high above 
the surrounding gunboats, her black sides unbroken by 
an open port; for the gun-deck ports were lashed down, 
and the guns housed. Not a rope's end was permitted 
to hang over the side; the stern ladders were removed, 
and the gangway cleats knocked off. An enemy might 
as well hope to scale the unbroken front of a massive 
wall of masonry, as that dark, forbidding hull. From 
the bulwarks rose ©n all sides, to the ends of the yards, 
a huge net made of ratlin stuff, boiled in pitch until 
it would turn the edge of a cutlass, and further strength- 
ened by nail-rods and small chains. The upper part 
of the netting was weighted with kentledge, the pigs 
of iron used for ballast; so that, should the hardy as- 
sailants succeed in coming alongside and scaling the 
side, a few blows of an axe would let fall the heavily 
weighted nettings, sweeping the boarders into the sea, 
and covering boats and men with an impenetrable mesh, 
under which they would be at the mercy of the sailors 
on the frigate's decks. The carronades and howitzers 
were loaded with grape; and the officers and men felt 
that only bravery on their part was essential to the 
defeat of any force that Great Britain could send 
against the ship. 

Heedless of these formidable preparations for their 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 207 

reception, the enemy set under way two expeditions for 
the capture of the " Constellation." In neither case 
did the antagonists actually come to blows, for the 
approach of the British was discovered before they 
came within pistol-shot; and, as their only chance lay 
in surprising the Americans, they retired without strik- 
ing a blow. The coming of the first expedition was 
known upon the " Constellation " the day before it 
actually set out. A Portuguese merchantman, trying 
to beat out of the bay, had been stopped by the British, 
and anchored a few miles below the American frigate. 
A guard and lookout from the English fleet were sta- 
tioned on the Portuguese to watch the " Constellation." 
In an unguarded moment, these men let fall a hint of 
the movement under way; and an American passenger 
on the Portuguese vessel quickly carried the news to 
Captain Stewart, and volunteered to remain and aid 
in the defence. The next night was dark and drizzly; 
and the British, to the number of two thousand, set 
out in boats for the " Constellation." Hardly were 
they within gun-shot, when two lanterns gleamed from 
the side of a watchful guard-boat; and the roll of drums 
and sound of hurrying feet aboard the frigate told that 
the alarm was given. The assailants thereupon aban- 
doned the adventure, and returned to their ship. The 
next night they returned, but again retreated discom- 
fited. Several nights later, a third expedition came up. 
This time the guard-boat was far down the bay; and, 
seeing the huge procession of boats, the Americans 
calmly edged in among them, and for some time rowed 
along, listening to the conversation of the British, who 
never dreamed that an enemy could be in their midst. 
Suddenly a sailor, more sharp-eyed than the rest, caught 
sight of the interlopers; and the cry was raised, "A 
stranger! " The Americans tugged at their oars, and 
were soon lost to sight; but, not being pursued, re- 



2o8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

turned, and accompanied their foes up the bay, and 
even anchored with the flotilla at a point above the 
" Constellation." The enemy, finding the Americans 
constantly on the watch, abandoned their designs on the 
ship, and vowed that Captain Stewart must be a Scotch- 
man, as he could never be caught napping. Some days 
later, an officer, sent with a flag of truce to the British 
fleet, vastly chagrined the^ officers there by repeating 
their remarks overheard by the guard-boat officers who 
joined the British flotilla in the dark. These three 
escapes confirmed the reputation borne by the " Con- 
stellation," as a "lucky ship"; and although she re- 
mained pent up in port throughout the war, doing 
nothing for her country, her luck was unquestioned in 
the minds of the sailors. 

Among the frigates that did get to sea was the 
" President," Captains Rodgers. Her cruise was 
hardly glorious, but one incident of it is worth the 
telling: 

It was near the last of September that the frigate 
was flying along before a fresh breeze. Her yards were 
spread with a cloud of snowy canvas, and the wind 
sung through the straining cordage a melody sweet 
to the ears of the sailor homeward bound. Towards 
evening, a small sail was made out in the distance; and, 
as time wore on, it was seen that she was rapidly 
approaching the " President." Rodgers surmised that 
the stranger might be a British vessel, and determined 
to lure her within range by strategy. In some way 
he had obtained knowledge of some of the private sig- 
nals of the British navy; and in a few minutes from 
the masthead of the American frigate there fluttered 
a row of flags which announced her as the British 
frigate " Sea-Horse." The stranger promptly re- 
sponded, and was made out to be the schooner " High- 
flyer," a little craft noted for her sailing qualities. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 209 

Unsuspectingly the " Highflyer " came under the stern 
of the American frigate, and waited for a boat to be 
sent aboard. Soon the boat came; and one of Rod- 
gers's lieutenants, clad In British uniform, clambered 
up the side, and was received with due honor. He 
was the bearer of a message from Commodore Rod- 
gers, requesting that the signal-books of the " High- 
flyer " be sent on board the fictitious " Sea-Horse " for 
comparison and revision. This the British captain 
hastened to do, and soon followed his books to the 
deck of the frigate, where a lieutenant met him, clothed 
In full British uniform. A file of marines, dressed in 
the scarlet coats of the British service, stood on the 
deck; and the duped Englishman greatly admired the 
appearance of the frigate, remarking to the ofiicer who 
escorted him to Rodgers's cabin, that so trim a craft 
could only be found in His Majesty's service. 

On entering the cabin, the English officer greeted 
Commodore Rodgers with deference, and proceeded at 
once to tell of naval matters. 

" I have here," said he, placing a bundle of papers 
In the commodore's hands, " a number of dispatches 
for Admiral Warren, who is on this station. You 
may not know that one of the principal objects of our 
squadron cruising here Is the capture of the Yankee 
frigate ' President,' which has been greatly annoying 
British commerce." 

Rodgers was naturally much Interested In this state- 
ment, and asked the visitor If he knew much about 
the commander of the " President." 

" I hear he is an odd fish," was the response; " and 
certainly he Is devilish hard to catch." 

Rodgers started. He had hardly expected so frank 
an expression of opinion. 

" Sir," said he emphatically, " do you know what 
vessel you are on board of? " 



2IO STORY OF OUR NAVY 

" Why, certainly, — on board of His Majesty's ship 
' Sea-Horse.' " 

" No, sir, you are mistaken," was the startling re- 
sponse. " You are on board of the United States 
frigate ' President,' and I am Commodore Rodgers." 

The astounded Englishman sprang to his feet, and 
rushed to the deck. The sight he saw there was still 
more startling. The quarter-deck was crowded with 
officers in United States uniform. The scarlet coats 
of the marines had vanished, and were replaced by 
Yankee blue. Even as he looked, the British flag 
came fluttering down, the American ensign went up, 
and the band struck up " Yankee Doodle." 

Nothing was left to the Englishman but to submit; 
and, with the best grace possible, he surrendered his 
vessel and himself to the " odd fish " who had so 
cleverly trapped him. 

Three days later, the " President," with her prize, 
and crowded with prisoners, dropped anchor in the 
harbor of Newport, after a cruise of one hundred and 
forty-eight days. In actual results, the cruise was far 
from satisfactory, for but eleven vessels had been 
taken. But the service rendered the country by annoy- 
ing the enemy's merchantmen, and drawing the British 
war-vessels away in chase, was vast. At one time 
more than twenty British men-of-war were searching 
for the roving American frigate; and the seafaring 
people of the United States were thus greatly benefited 
by the " President's " prolonged cruise. 

But the one great naval event of the year was the 
duel between the " Chesapeake " and " Shannon," that 
cost the United States its first frigate lost in the war, 
and gave the nation its naval maxim, " Don't give up 
the ship." 

The " Chesapeake " was one of the ships caught by 
the blockade. For four months she had been lying 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 211 

in harbor at Boston refitting after an exceptionally un- 
lucky cruise. To her command was appointed Captain 
James Lawrence, the commander of the " Hornet " in 
her victorious duel with the " Peacock." On reaching 
his ship, he found affairs in a desperate condition. The 
sailors who had sailed on the long and unproductive 
cruise were firmly convinced that the frigate's bad luck 
was beyond remedy. The term of enlistment of many 
had expired, and they were daily leaving the ship. 
Those who remained were sullen, and smarting under 
fancied ill-treatment in the matter of the prize-money. 
To get fresh seamen was no easy task. Great fleets 
of privateers were being fitted out; and sailors generally 
preferred to sail in these vessels, in which the discipline 
was light, and the gains usually great. Some sailors 
from "the "Constitution" were induced to join the 
"Chesapeake"; and these, with the remnant of the 
frigate's old crew, formed the nucleus of a crew which 
was filled up with merchant-sailors and foreigners of 
all nations. Before the lists were fairly filled, the 
ship put to sea, to give battle to an adversary that 
proved to be her superior. 

The events leading to the action were simple, and 
succeeded each other hurriedly. The port of Boston 
was blockaded by two British frigates, the " Tenedos," 
thirty-eight, and the " Shannon," thirty-eight. The 
latter vessel was under the command of Captain Philip 
Bowes Vere Broke, a naval oflScer of courage, skill, 
and judgment. His crew was thoroughly disciplined, 
and his ship a model of efficiency. No officer in the 
service understood better than he the difference between 
the discipline of a martinet and the discipline of a 
prudent and sagacious commander. His ship might 
not, like the " Peacock," merit the title of " the yacht "; 
but for active service she was always prepared. James, 
an English naval historian, turns from his usual occu- 



212 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

pation of explaining the American naval victories by 
belittling the British ships, and enormously magnifying 
the power of the victors, to speak as follows of the 
"Shannon": 

From the day on which he [Capt. Broke] joined her, the 14th of 
September, 1806, the " Shannon " began to feel the effect of her 
captain's proficiency as a gunner, and zeal for the service. The 
laying of the ship's ordnance so that it may be correctly fired in a 
horizontal direction is justly deemed a most important operation, 
as upon it depends, in a great measure, the true aim and destructive 
effect of the shot ; this was attended to by Capt. Broke in person. 
By drafts from other ships, and the usual means to which a British 
man-of-war is obliged to resort, the " Shannon " got together a 
crew ; and in the course of a year or two, by the paternal care and 
excellent regulations of Capt. Broke, the ship's company became as 
pleasant to command as it was dangerous to meet." 

Moreover, the historian goes on to relate that the 
ship's guns were carefully sighted, and her ammunition 
frequently overhauled. Often a cask would be thrown 
overboard, and a gun's crew suddenly called to sink 
it as it bobbed about on the waves astern. Practice 
with the great guns was of daily occurrence. 

Every day for about an hour and a half in the forenoon, when not 
prevented by chase or the state of the weather, the men were 
exercised at training the guns ; and for the same time in the 
afternoon in the use of the broad-sword, musket, pike, etc. Twice 
a week the crew fired at targets, both with great guns and musketry ; 
and Capt. Broke, as an additional stimulus beyond the emulation 
excited, gave a pound of tobacco to every man that put a shot 
through the bull's-eye. 

Such was the vessel that in June appeared alone off 
the entrance to Boston Harbor, and by her actions 
seemed to challenge the " Chesapeake " to give her 
battle. Indeed, Broke's wish to test the strength of 
the two vessels was so great, that he sent in, by the 
hands of an American prisoner, a writen challenge, 
the terms and spirit of which showed the writer to be 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 213 

a courageous and chlvalric officer and gentleman. " As 
the ' Chesapeake ' now appears ready for sea," he 
wrote, " I request you will do me the honor to meet 
the ' Shannon ' with her, ship to ship, to try the for- 
tunes of our respective flags. To an officer of your 
character, it requires some apology for proceeding to 
further particulars. Be assured, sir, it is not from 
any doubt I can entertain of your wishing to close 
with my proposal, but merely to provide an answer 
to any objection which might be made, and very reason- 
ably, upon the chance of our receiving any unfair sup- 
port." Captain Broke then proceeds to assure Law- 
rence that the other British ships in the neighborhood 
would be sent away before the day of combat. To 
the challenge was appended a careful statement of the 
strength of the " Shannon," that Lawrence might un- 
derstand that the ships were fairly matched. 

But before this challenge reached Boston, Lawrence 
had set out to seek the enemy. He had seen the 
"Shannon" lying off the entrance to the port; and, 
finding out that she was alone, he knew that her pres- 
ence was in itself a challenge that he could not honor- 
ably ignore. Nor did he desire to avoid the battle 
thus offered. He had confidence In his crew, his frig- 
ate, and himself, and looked for nothing but victory. 
To the Secretary of the Navy, he wrote: " An English 
frigate is now in sight from my deck. I have sent a 
pilot-boat out to reconnoitre; and, should she be alone, 
I am in hopes to give a good account of her before 
night. My crew appear to be in fine spirits, and I 
hope will do their duty." 

Li truth, however, the condition of this same crew 
was such that the captain would have been justified In 
refusing the challenge. An unusual number of foreign 
sailors were enrolled, among whom was a Portuguese, 
who, in the ensuing battle, did incalculable injury to 



214 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the cause of the " Chesapeake." The crew had never 
drilled together; many of the sailors came on board 
only a few hours before the ship sailed out to battle. 
All the old sailors were sullen over the delay In the 
payment of the prize-money of their last cruise. Law- 
rence attempted to allay their discontent by giving them 
checks for the prize-money; but the sense of Injury still 
lingered In the minds of the men, and they were Ill- 
fitted to do battle for the honor of the flag. Added 
to this evil was the fact that the first and second lieu- 
tenants and two acting lieutenants were away on sick- 
leave, and the ship was thus left short of officers on 
the eve of battle. 

Regardless of the disadvantages under which he 
labored, Lawrence weighed anchor on the ist of June, 
and started down the harbor. As he approached the 
ocean, Lawrence mustered his crew aft, and eloquently 
urged them to fight bravely, and do their duty to the 
country, which had entered upon this war In defence 
of seamen and their rights. Three ensigns were run 
up; and at the fore was unfurled a broad, white flag, 
bearing the motto, " Free Trade and Sailors' 
Rights.'' When Lawrence closed his speech, and 
pointed out the flag floating at the fore, the men cheered 
and went forward, leaving the captain convinced that 
he could depend upon their loyalty. 

The morning was bright and cool, with a fresh 
breeze blowing, before which the " Chesapeake " rap- 
idly bore down upon the foe that awaited her. Follow- 
ing cautiously In her track came a number of small 
craft, — pilot-boats, sloops, fishing-smacks, and pleasure- 
boats, — that had come down the bay to see the outcome 
of the battle. Hundreds of people of Boston rode 
along the coast, in hopes of gaining an outlook from 
which the progress of the fight might be viewed. 

At noon the ship rounded Boston Light, and made 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 215 

out into the open sea. The " Shannon " went ahead, 
under easy sail, making up the coast toward Salem. 
Towards five o'clock the " Chesapeake " luffed up for 
a moment; while the pilot clambered down the side, 
and put off in a small boat. A gun was then fired, as 
a signal that the Americans were ready for action. 

The " Shannon " evidently understood the purport 
of the signal; for she quickly hove to, and troops of 
agile jackies clambered up her rigging, and began to 
take in sail. The " Chesapeake " followed suit, and 
was soon under only top-sails and jib. She then laid 
her course straight for the enemy. 

A ship preparing for action in that day was a scene 
of hurry and confusion that cannot be equalled in this 
era of machinery and few guns. At the short, broken, 
rolling beat of the drums, calling the men to quarters, 
the hurried rush of hundreds of feet began, as the 
men came pouring from all parts of the ship to their 
posts. Some clambered aloft to their stations in the 
tops; others invaded the sanctity of the quarter-deck 
and captain's cabin, where several guns are always 
mounted. But the most stirring scene is on the long 
gun-deck, where the men gradually fall into their places 
at the two long rows of great guns that peer through 
the open ports on either side. All are stripped to the 
waist ; and at many a gun the fair skin of the American 
sailor gleams white by the side of some swarthy 
Spaniard, or still darker negro. 

All quiet down on reaching their stations; and, five 
minutes after the drum-beats, no sound is heard, save 
perhaps the steps of the black boys, taking rations of 
grog around, that the men may " splice the main 
brace " before going into the fight. 

Thus silently did the " Chesapeake " bear down upon 
her adversary. There was no long-range firing; for 
the two commanders were veterans, whose chief desire 



2i6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

was to settle the dispute yard-arm to yard-arm. Gradu- 
ally the American ship ranged alongside the " Shan- 
non," at a distance of half pistol-shot; and, as her 
fore-mast came in a line with the " Shannon's " miz- 
zen-mast, the latter opened fire with her cabin-guns. 
For a moment the " Chesapeake " was silent, waiting 
for her guns to bear; then, with sulphuric flashes and 
a thunderous roar, she let fly her whole broadside. 
Then followed a duel with great guns. The two ships, 
lying side by side, dealt and received staggering blows. 
The spectators in small boats, who kept a safe distance, 
and the crowds of eager watchers on the far-off heights 
of Salem, saw through their spy-glasses the flash of 
the first broadsides, and the flying splinters that fol- 
lowed the course of the deadly shot. Then a heavy 
cloud of yellow smoke settled over the warring levia- 
thans, and all further incidents of the battle were shut 
out from view. Only the top-masts of the ships, with 
the half-furled sails and the opposing ensigns flying, 
could be seen above the smoke. 

Under this vaporous pall, the fighting was sharp and 
desperate. The first broadside of the " Shannon " so 
swept the decks of the American frigate, that, of one 
hundred and fifty men quartered on the upper deck, not 
fifty were upon their legs when the terrible rush of the 
shot was over. The sailors in the tops of the British 
frigate, looking down upon the decks of their enemy, 
could see nothing but a cloud of hammocks, splinters, 
and wreckage of all kinds, driven fiercely across the 
deck. Both men at the wheel fell dead, but their places 
were soon filled; while fresh gunners rushed down to 
work the guns that had been silenced by the enemy's 
fearful broadside. In a moment the " Chesapeake " 
responded with spirit, and for some time broadsides 
were exchanged with inconceivable rapidity. The men 
encouraged each other with cheers and friendly cries. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 217 

They had named the guns of the frigate, and with each 
telhng shot they cheered the iron-throated monster 
which had hurled the bolt. " Wilful Murder," " Spit- 
fire," "Revenge," "Bull Dog," "Mad Anthony," 
" Defiance," " Raging Eagle," and " Viper " were some 
of the titles borne by the great guns; and well the 
weapons bore out the names thus bestowed upon them. 
The gunnery of the Americans was good, their shot 
doing much damage to the enemy's rigging. But the 
effect of the " Shannon's " broadsides was such that no 
men, however brave, could stand before them. They 
swept the decks, mowing down brave fellows by the 
score. Officers fell on every side. At a critical mo- 
ment the two ships fouled, exposing the " Chesapeake " 
to a raking broadside, which beat in her stern-ports, 
and drove the gunners from the after-port. At this 
moment, Lawrence was wounded in the leg, but re- 
mained at his post and ordered that the boarders be 
called up. Unhappily a negro bugler had been de- 
tailed for the duty usually performed by drummers; 
and, at this important moment, he could not be found. 
Midshipmen and lieutenants ran about the ship, striv- 
ing to call up the boarders by word of mouth. In 
the confusion, the bugler was found skulking under 
the stem of the launch, and so paralyzed by fear that 
he could only give a feeble blast upon his instrument. 
In the din and confusion of battle, the oral orders of 
the officers only perplexed the men; and the moment 
for boarding was lost. At that very moment, the turn- 
ing point of the conflict, Captain Lawrence was struck 
by a musket-ball, and fell mortally wounded to the 
deck. His officers rushed to his side, and, raising him 
gently, were carrying him below, when in a firm voice 
he cried: 

" Tell the men to fire faster, and not give up the 
ship. Fight her till she sinks." 



2i8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

With these words on his lips, he was carried to the 
ward-room. 

At this moment, the upper deck was left without 
an officer above the rank of midshipman. The men, 
seeing their captain carried below, fell into a panic, 
which was increased by the explosion of an arm-chest, 
into which a hand-grenade, hurled by a sailor lying 
out on the yard-arm of the " Shannon," had fallen. 
Seeing that the fire of the Americans had slackened, 
Captain Broke left his quarter-deck, and, running 
hastily forward, gained a position on the bow of his 
ship from which he could look down upon the decks 
of the " Chesapeake." His practised eye quickly per- 
ceived the confusion on the deck of the American frig- 
ate; and he instantly ordered that the ships be lashed 
together, and the boarders called up. An old quarter- 
master, a veteran in the British navy, set about lashing 
the ships together, and accomplished his task, although 
his right arm was actually hacked off by the cutlass 
of an American sailor. The boarders were slow in 
coming up, and but twenty men followed Broke as he 
climbed to the deck of the " Chesapeake." Broke led 
his men straight for the quarter-deck of the frigate. 
The Americans oft'ered but little resistance. Not an 
officer was in sight to guide the men, and the newly 
enhsted sailors and foreigners fled like sheep before 
the advance of the boarders. 

The British reached the quarter-deck with hardly 
the loss of a man. Here stood Mr. Livermore, the 
chaplain of the " Chesapeake," who had cruised long 
with Lawrence, and bitterly mourned the captain's fate. 
Determined to avenge the fallen captain, he fired a 
pistol at Broke's head, but missed him. Broke sprang 
forward, and dealt a mighty stroke of his keen cutlass 
at the chaplain's head, who saved himself by taking 
the blow on his arm. While the boarders were thus 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 219 

traversing the upper deck, the sailors in the tops of 
the " Chesapeake " were keeping up a well-directed fire, 
before which many of the Englishmen fell. But this 
resistance was not of long duration ; for one of the 
" Shannon's " long nines, loaded with grape, swept 
clean the " Chesapeake's " tops. With this, the British 
were in full control of the upper deck. 

Up to this time, the Americans on the gun-deck had 
known nothing of the events occurring on the deck 
above them. When the news of the British assault 
spread. Lieutenant Budd called upon the men to follow 
him, and drive the boarders back to their own ship. 
A number of the marines (who behaved splendidly 
throughout the fight) and some twenty veteran sailors 
were all that responded to the call. Broke had in 
the meantime summoned the marines of the " Shan- 
non " to his aid; and the British, led by their dashing 
commander, were pouring in a dense column down 
the companion-ways to the gun-deck. Budd and his 
handful of followers attacked them fiercely; and, by 
the very desperation of the onset, the British were 
forced back a few paces. Broke threw himself upon 
the Americans. With his cutlass he cut down the first 
man who attacked him, and bore down upon the others, 
dealing deadly blows right and left. His followers 
came close behind him. The Americans fell on every 
side, and began to retreat before the overwhelming 
force of their foes. Up from the ward-room came 
Lieutenant Ludlow, already suffering from two dan- 
gerous wounds. He placed himself beside the younger 
officer, and the two strove in every way to encourage 
their men. But Ludlow soon fell, with a gaping wound 
across his forehead. Budd was cut down, and fell 
through the hatchway to the deck beneath. The sail- 
ors, seeing both officers fall, gave way in confusion; 
and the ship was in the hands of the British. A few 



220 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

marines kept up a fire through the hatchway, but soon 
were silenced. 

An English officer, Lieutenant Watts, ran to the 
halliards to haul down the American flag. But it 
would seem that the good genius which had watched 
over that starry banner throughout the war was loath 
to see it disgraced; for the officer had hardly finished 
his work, when a grape-shot from his own ship struck 
him, and he fell dead. 

The noise of the battle had by this time died away, 
and the fresh breezes soon carried off the smoke that 
enveloped the combatants. It was an awful scene thus 
exposed to view. On the " Chesapeake " were sixty- 
one killed, and eighty-five wounded men. On the 
" Shannon " were thirty-three dead, and fifty wounded. 
On a cot in the ward-room lay Captain Lawrence, his 
mortal wound having mercifully rendered him uncon- 
scious, so that he knew nothing of the loss of his ship. 
Broke had been made delirious by the fevered throb- 
bing of the wound he had so long neglected. Every- 
where were evidences of carnage and desolation. The 
British prize-crew took possession of the captured ship, 
and in a few hours the captor and captive were well 
on their way toward Halifax. 

They reached port on the 7th of June; and the sight 
of the " Shannon," followed by the " Chesapeake " 
with the British ensign flying proudly over the Stars 
and Stripes, stirred the little city to the utmost en- 
thusiasm. As the two ships pursued their stately course 
up the harbor, the British men-of-war on all sides 
manned their yards, and fired salutes in honor of the 
victory. The thunders of the cannon brought the 
town's-people to the water-side, and their cheers rang 
out lustily to welcome their conquering countrymen to 
port. 

Captain Lawrence had died the day before; and his 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 221 

body, wrapped in an American flag, lay on the quarter- 
deck of his frigate. Three days later, his body, with 
that of his gallant lieutenant Ludlow, was laid to rest 
with imposing naval honors, in the churchyard at Hali- 
fax. But his country, honoring him even in the day 
of his defeat, was not content that his body should lie 
in the soil of an enemy's country. Two months after 
the battle, an American vessel, the " Henry " of Salem, 
entered the harbor of Halifax, under cover of a flag 
of truce, and took on board the bodies of Lawrence 
and Ludlow. They were conveyed first to Salem and 
later to New York, where they now lie under a massive 
monument of sandstone, in a corner of Trinity church- 
yard. A few feet away, the ceaseless tide of human 
life rolls on its course up and down Broadway; few 
of the busy men and women pausing to remember that 
in the ancient churchyard lies the body of the man 
whose dying words, " Don't give up the ship," were 
for years the watchword and motto of the United 
States navy. 

Many of the stirring events of this year of the war 
took place in the waters of Chesapeake Bay and Hamp- 
ton Roads — a region that deserves to be classic in 
American naval annals. There was gathered a power- 
ful British fleet under command of Admiral Cockburn 
— an able and fearless commander, but one who, be- 
cause of the heartlessness of his methods, was bitterly 
hated by the peaceful inhabitants along the shore. The 
little village of Havre de Grace was burned by his 
orders, for no intelligible reason, and the banks of the 
surrounding streams ravaged for miles in evei*y direc- 
tion. Hampton, a more considerable town, was treated 
in the same way, though in this instance the necessary 
severities of war were added to by personal barbarities 
committed by the British in violation of all the tenets 
of civilized warfare. Indeed, the atrocities of the 



222 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

sack, of Hampton may fairly be said to stand as the 
last instance of ferocity shown against non-combatants 
by a civilized people. All the coast, too, was devas- 
tated, and at last the enemy prepared for an assault 
upon Norfolk — a rich prize could it have been won. 
On the 20th of June they moved forward to the assault, 
— three seventy-four-gun ships, one sixty-four, four 
frigates, two sloops, and three transports. They were 
opposed by the American forces stationed on Craney 
Island, which commands the entrance to Norfolk Har- 
bor. Here the Americans had thrown up earthworks, 
mounting two twenty-four, one eighteen, and four six- 
pound cannon. To work this battery, one hundred 
sailors from the " Constellation," together with fifty 
marines, had been sent ashore. A large body of militia 
and a few soldiers of the regular army were also in 
camp upon the island. 

The British set the 22d as the date for the attack; 
and on the morning of that day, fifteen large boats, 
filled with sailors, marines, and soldiers to the number 
of seven hundred, put off from the ships, and dashed 
toward the batteries. At the same time a larger force 
tried to move forward by land, but were driven back, 
to wait until their comrades in the boats should have 
stormed and silenced the American battery. But that 
battery was not to be silenced. After checking the 
advance of the British by land, the Americans waited 
coolly for the column of boats to come within point- 
blank range. On they came, bounding over the waves, 
led by the great barge " Centipede," fifty feet long, 
and crowded with men. The blue-jackets in the shore 
battery stood silently at their guns. Suddenly there 
arose a cry, "Now, boys, are you ready?" "All 
ready," was the response. " Then fire ! " And the 
great guns hurled their loads of lead and iron into 
the advancing boats. The volley was a fearful one; 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 223 

but the British still came on doggedly, until the fire 
of the battery became too terrible to be endured. " The 
American sailors handled the great guns like rifles," 
said one of the British officers, speaking of the battle. 
Before this terrific fire, the advancing column was 
thrown into confusion. The boats, drifting upon each 
other, so crowded together that the oarsmen could not 
make any headway. A huge round shot struck the 
" Centipede," passing through her diagonally, leaving 
death and wounds in its track. The shattered craft 
sunk, and was soon followed by four others. The 
order for retreat was given; and, leaving their dead 
and some wounded in the shattered barges that lay in 
the shallow water, the British fled to their ships. Mid- 
shipman Tatnall, who, many years later, served In the 
Confederate navy, waded out with several sailors, and, 
seizing the " Centipede," drew her ashore. He found 
several wounded men In her, — one a Frenchman, with 
both legs shot away. A small terrier dog lay whimper- 
ing In the bow. His master had brought him along 
for a run on shore, never once thinking of the possi- 
bility of the flower of the British navy being beaten 
back by the Americans. 

The New England coast, too, was blockaded, but 
a little ten-gun brig, the " Argus," managed to slip out, 
and made a swift run to France, whither she carried 
Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, who had just been ap- 
pointed minister to that nation. This duty done, her 
commander took his ship Into the very waters that 
Paul Jones had ravaged thirty-five years earlier. 
Prizes were many, but all had to be burned, as there 
was no port Into which they could be sent. But her 
end came soon in an action not creditable to the Amer- 
ican arms. A ship deep-laden with wine had been 
captured, and the American sailors, besides enjoying 
the cargo to the full before applying the torch, smuggled 



224 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

-quantities of the liquor on to the " Argus." As luck 
would have it, the flames attracted the attention of 
the brig " Pelican," which bore down to investigate. 

Day was just breaking, and by the gray morning 
light the British saw an American cruiser making away 
from the burning hulk of her last prize. The " Peli- 
can " followed in hot pursuit, and was allowed to come 
alongside, although the fleet American could easily have 
left her far astern. But Captain Allen was ready for 
the conflict; confident of his ship and of his crew, of 
whose half-intoxicated condition he knew nothing, he 
felt sure that the coming battle would only add more 
laurels to the many already won by the " Argus." He 
had often declared that the " Argus " should never 
run from any two-master; and now, that the gage of 
battle was offered, he promptly accepted. 

At six o'clock in the morning, the " Pelican " came 
alongside, and opened the conflict with a broadside from 
her thirty-two-pound carronades. The " Argus " re- 
plied with spirit, and a sharp cannonade began. Four 
minutes after the battle opened. Captain Allen was 
struck by a round shot that cut off his left leg near the 
thigh. His oflficers rushed to his side, and strove to 
bear him to his cabin; but he resisted, saying he would 
stay on deck and fight his ship as long as any life was 
left him. With his back to a mast, he gave his orders 
and cheered on his men for a few minutes longer; then, 
fainting from the terrible gush of blood from his 
wound, was carried below. To lose their captain so 
early in the action, was enough to discourage the crew 
of the " Argus." Yet the oflicers left on duty were 
brave and skilful. Twice the vessel was swung into 
a raking position, but the gunners failed to seize the 
advantage. " They seemed to be nodding over their 
guns," said one of the ofllicers afterward. The enemy, 
however, showed no signs of nodding. His fire was 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 225 

rapid and well-directed, and his vessel manoeuvred in 
a way that showed a practised seaman in command. 
At last he secured a position under the stern of the 
" Argus," and lay there, pouring in destructive broad- 
sides, until the Americans struck their flag, — just forty- 
seven minutes after the opening of the action. The 
loss on the " Argus " amounted to six killed and seven- 
teen wounded. 

However, American pride was somewhat mollified 
by the little " Enterprise," one of the lucky ships of 
the war with Tripoli. In the early part of September, 
1 8 13, she was cruising near Penguin Point, when she 
sighted a brig in shore that had the appearance of a 
hostile war-vessel. The stranger soon settled all 
doubts as to her character by firing several guns, seem- 
ingly for the purpose of recalling her boats from the 
shore. Then, setting sail with the rapidity of a man- 
of-war, she bore down upon the American vessel. The 
*' Enterprise," instead of waiting for the enemy, turned 
out to sea, under easy sail; and her crew were set to 
work bringing aft a long gun, and mounting it in the 
cabin, where one of the stern windows had been 
chopped away to make a port. This action rather 
alarmed the sailors, who feared that their commander, 
Lieutenant Burrows, whose character was unknown to 
them, intended to avoid the enemy, and was rigging the 
long gun for a stern-chaser. An impromptu meeting 
was held upon the forecastle; and, after much whis- 
pered consultation, the people appointed a committee 
to go aft and tell the commander that the lads were 
burning to engage the enemy, and were confident of 
whipping her. The committee started bravely to dis- 
charge their commission; but their courage failed them 
before so mighty a potentate as the commander, and 
they whispered their message to the first lieutenant, 
who laughed, and sent word forward that Mr. Bur- 



226 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

rows only wanted to get sea-room, and would soon give 
the jackies all the fighting they desired. 

The Americans now had leisure to examine, through 
their marine-glasses, the vessel which was so boldly 
following them to the place of battle. She was a man- 
of-war brig, flying the British ensign from both mast- 
heads and at the peak. Her armament consisted of 
twelve eighteen-pound carronades and two long sixes, 
as against the fourteen eighteen-pound carronades and 
two long nines of the " Enterprise." The English- 
man carried a crew of sixty-six men, while the quarter- 
rolls of the American showed a total of one hundred 
and two. But in the battle which followed the British 
fought with such desperate bravery as to almost over- 
come the odds against them. 

For some time the two vessels fought shy of each 
other, manoeuvring for a windward position. Towards 
three o'clock in the afternoon, the Americans gained 
this advantage, and at once shortened sail, and edged 
down toward the enemy. As the ships drew near, a 
sailor was seen to climb into the rigging of the English- 
man, and nail the colors to the mast, giving the lads 
of the " Enterprise " a hint as to the character of the 
reception they might expect. As the vessels came 
within range, both crews cheered lustily, and continued 
cheering until within pistol-shot, when the two broad- 
sides were let fly at almost exactly the same moment. 
With the first fire, both commanders fell. Captain 
Blyth of the English vessel was almost cut in two 
by a round shot as he stood on his quarter-deck. He 
died instantly. Lieutenant Burrows was struck by a 
canister-shot, which inflicted a mortal wound. He re- 
fused to be carried below, and was tenderly laid upon 
the deck, where he remained during the remainder of 
the battle, cheering on his men, and crying out that 
the colors of the " Enterprise " should never be stru(?k. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 227 

The conflict was sharp, but short. For ten minutes 
only the answering broadsides rung out; then the colors 
of the British ship were hauled down. She proved to 
be the sloop-of-war " Boxer," and had suffered severely 
from the broadsides of the " Enterprise." Several 
shots had taken effect in her hull, her fore-mast was 
almost shot away, and several guns were dismounted. 
Three men beside her captain were killed, and seventeen 
wounded. But she had not suffered these injuries with- 
out inflicting some in return. The " Enterprise " was 
much cut up aloft. Her fore-mast and main-mast had 
each been pierced by an eighteen-pound ball. Her 
captain lay upon the deck, gasping in the last agonies 
of death, but stoutly protesting that he would not be 
carried below until he received the sword of the com- 
mander of the " Boxer." At last this was brought 
him; and grasping it he cried, "Now I am satisfied. 
I die contented." 

The two shattered brigs were taken into Portland, 
where the bodies of the two slain commanders were 
buried with all the honors of war. The " Enterprise " 
was repaired, and made one more cruise before the 
close of the war; but the " Boxer" was found to be 
forever ruined for a vessel of war, and she was sold 
into the merchant-service. The fact that she was so 
greatly injured in so short a time led a London paper, 
in speaking of the battle, to say: "The fact seems to 
be but too clearly established, that the Americans have 
some superior mode of firing; and we cannot be too 
anxiously employed in discovering to what circumstances 
that superiority is owing." 

This battle practically closed the year's naval events 
upon the ocean. The British privateer " Dart " was 
captured near Newport by some volunteers from the 
gunboats stationed at that point. But, with this excep- 
tion, nothing noteworthy in naval circles occurred dur- 



228 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ing the remainder of the year. Looking back over the 
annals of the naval operations of 1813, It Is clear that 
the Americans were the chief sufferers. They had 
the victories over the " Peacock," " Boxer," and 
"Highflyer" to boast of; but they had lost the 
" Chesapeake," " Argus," and " Viper." More than 
this, they had suffered their coast to be so sealed up 
by British blockaders that many of their best vessels 
were left to He Idle at their docks. The blockade, too, 
was growing stricter daily, and the outlook for the 
future seemed gloomy; yet, as It turned out. In 18 14 
the Americans regained the ground they had lost the 
year before. 



CHAPTER XIII 

The Cruise of the " Essex "—A Twelve-Year-Old Captain— War 
with the Aborigines— A Squadron of Prizes— Trapped in Port 
— The Loss of the " Essex." 

One of the most picturesque cruises of the war began 
in 1812 and ended in 18 14. It closed in disaster, 
in dismal, but not dishonorable defeat. But the story 
of the cruise forms one of the most inspiriting chapters 
in American naval annals, while the experience and 
discipline it afforded began the education of a twelve- 
year-old boy destined to become the foremost naval 
hero of the United States. 

The frigate " Essex," rated at thirty-two guns, but 
mounting only twenty-six, was in the harbor of New 
York when war was declared. She formed part of 
the squadron of Commodore Rodgers, but he, being 
anxious to get to sea before the dreaded orders laying 
up all ships in port could be delivered, slipped away 
leaving her to follow. Her commander was Captain 
David Porter, father of the Civil War admiral of the 
same name. Among the midshipmen was a twelve- 
year-old boy whom the captain had adopted — David 
Glasgow Farragut, whose name shines bright among 
those of our naval heroes. In those early days mid- 
shipmen were mere boys, but we shall see in the course 
of this narrative that they did their duty like men. 

The early months of the cruise were uneventful. 
Prizes of peaceful merchantmen were plentiful enough, 
but the only battle was with a ship so much the Amer- 
ican's inferior that no great amount of glory attended 
success. The " Essex " was curiously disguised as a 
merchant vessel, when on the 13th of August, a small 

229 



230 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

British man-of-war bore down on her, gleefully Intent 
upon taking a prize. Porter continued his bit of 
deception. Instead of the great crowd of agile sailors 
that spring into the rigging of a man-of-war, at the 
order to make sail, only a handful, in obedience to 
Porter's orders, awkwardly set on the " Essex " all 
the sail she would carry. Two long, heavy cables 
dragging in the water astern so retarded the ship, 
that the stranger, coming down gallantly, thought he 
had fallen in with a lumbering old American merchant- 
man, which was making frantic, but futile, efforts to 
escape. 

Had the British captain been able to look behind 
the closed ports of the " Essex," he would have formed 
a very different idea of the character of his chase. He 
would have seen a roomy gun-deck, glistening with 
that whiteness seen only on the decks of well-kept men- 
of-war. Down either side of the deck stretched a 
row of heavy carronades, each with its crew of gun- 
ners grouped about the breech, and each shotted and 
primed ready for the opening volley. From the maga- 
zine amidships, to the gun-deck, reached a line of 
stewards, waiters, and cooks, ready to pass up cart- 
ridges; for on a man-of-war, in action, no one is an 
idler. Active boys were skurrying about the deck, 
barefooted, and stripped to the waist. These were 
the " powder monkeys," whose duty it would be, when 
the action opened, to take the cartridges from the line 
of powder-passers and carry it to the guns. On the 
spar-deck, only a few sailors and ofHcers were visible 
to the enemy; but under the taffrail lay crouched scores 
of blue-uniformed jackies, with smooth-faced middies 
and veteran lieutenants, ready to spring into the rigging 
at the word of command, or to swarm over the side 
and board the enemy, should the gunwales of the vessels 
touch. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 231 

All this preparation, however, was unknown to the 
" Englishman," who came boldly on, doubting nothing 
that the " Essex " would that day be added to his 
list of prizes. As he drew nearer, the American sailors 
could see that their foe was much their inferior in 
size and armament; and the old tars who had seen 
service before growled out their dissatisfaction, that the 
action should be nothing but a scrimmage after all. In 
a few minutes, the bold Britons gave three ringing 
cheers, and let fly a broadside at the " Essex," In 
an instant the ports of the sham merchantman were 
knocked out; and, with a war-like thunder, the heavy 
carronades hurled their ponderous missiles against the 
side of the assailant. The astonished Englishmen re- 
plied feebly, but were quickly driven from their posts 
by the rapidity of the American fire; and, in eight min- 
utes after the action was opened, the British hauled 
down their flag. The captured ship proved to be the 
sloop-of-war " Alert," mounting twenty eighteen- 
pounder carronades. The boarding officer found her 
badly cut up, and seven feet of water in the hold. 
The officers were transferred to the " Essex," and the 
" Alert " taken in tow. Circumstances, however, 
forced the Americans to part in a very few days. 

The chief cause which led to the separation of the 
two vessels was an incipient mutiny, which was dis- 
covered by Midshipman Farragut, and was only averted 
by the perfect discipline of the American crew. An 
exercise to which the greatest attention was given was 
the " fire-drill." When the cry of fire was raised on 
the ship, every man seized his cutlass and blanket, and 
went to quarters as though the ship were about to go 
into action. Captain Porter was accustomed, that his 
men might be well prepared for any emergency, to 
raise this cry of fire at all hours of the night; and often 
he caused a slight smoke to be created in the hold, 



232 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

further to try the nerves of his men. Shortly after 
the " Alert " was captured, and while the " Essex " 
was crowded with prisoners, some of the captives con- 
spired to seize the ship, and carry her to England. 
One night, as Farragut was sleeping in his hammock, 
a strange feeling of fear came over him; and he opened 
his eyes to find the coxswain of the captain's gig of 
the "Alert" standing over him with a pistol in his 
hand. The boy knew him to be a prisoner, and, see- 
ing him armed, was convinced that something was 
wrong. Expecting every moment to be killed, he lay 
still in his hammock, until the man turned on his heel 
and walked away. Then Farragut slipped out, and 
ran to the captain's cabin to report the incident. Por- 
ter rushed upon the berth-deck in an instant. " Fire! 
fire! " shouted he at the top of his voice; and in an 
instant the crew were at their quarters, in perfect order. 
The mutineers thought that a bad time for their project, 
and it was abandoned. The next day the prisoners 
were sent on board the " Alert," and that vessel sent 
into St. Johns as a cartel. 

After this exploit Porter turned his ship's prow 
southward. He hoped to meet, off the coast of Brazil, 
the " Constitution " and the " Hornet," but before his 
arrival these two ships had fought the battles described 
in an earlier chapter, and were on their way home with 
prizes and prisoners. The " Essex " was alone in 
waters filled with British men-of-war, and far from a 
friendly port. In those days the captain was his own 
board of strategy. There was no wireless telegraph 
to direct from Washington ships three thousand miles 
away. Thrown upon his own responsibility, master 
of his own fate, the old-time navy captain developed 
a decision and self-reliance which conditions deny to 
those of to-day. Porter met his situation with char- 
acteristic boldness. Around the other side of South 




ADMIRAL DAVID PORTER 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 233 

America, in the broad Pacific Ocean, were no British 
nien-of-war, but large fleets of British whalers. He 
at once determined to take the " Essex " on the perilous 
voyage around Cape Horn and seek prizes in those 
unguarded waters. The voyage was made with little 
incident, beyond the capture and disarmament of a 
Peruvian privateer which, though Peru was at peace 
with the United States, had been taking and burning 
American whalers. But more important prizes fell 
fast into the grasp of the *' Essex," so that three 
months after rounding the Horn, Porter, as he trod 
the deck of his ship, found himself master of a goodly 
squadron instead of one stanch frigate. The " Essex," 
of course, led the list, followed by the " Georgianna," 
sixteen guns, forty-two men; "Atlantic," six guns, 
twelve men; "Greenwich," ten guns, fourteen men; 
"Montezuma," ten guns, two men; "Policy," ten 
men. Of these the " Georgianna " had already re- 
ceived her armament and authority as a war-vessel; and 
the " Atlantic " showed such seaworthy qualities that 
Porter determined to utilize her in the same way. 

Shortly after he captured even a larger ship, the 
" Seringapatam," which he armed with twenty-two 
guns and made part of his squadron. Other vessels 
were sent back to the United States, or to neutral ports 
for sale. One effect of these successes was to put 
a heavy strain on the officers of the " Essex." Every 
prize had to be officered and there was only the com- 
plement on the " Essex " to draw from, and even 
boyish midshipmen were put in command of ships. 
Farragut was one of these, and his description of his 
experience is worth the telling. 

" I was sent as prize-master to the ' Barclay,' " he 
writes. "This was an important event in my life; 
and, when it was decided that I was to take the ship 
to Valparaiso, I felt no little pride at finding myself 



234 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

in command at twelve years of age. This vessel had 
been recaptured from a Spanish guarda casta. The 
captain and his mate were on board; and I was to 
control the men sent from our frigate, while the cap- 
tain was to navigate the vessel. Captain Porter, hav- 
ing failed to dispose of the prizes as it was understood 
he intended, gave orders for the ' Essex Junior ' and 
all the prizes to start for Valparaiso. This arrange- 
ment caused great dissatisfaction on the part of the 
captain of the ' Barclay,' a violent-tempered old fel- 
low; and, when the day arrived for our separation 
from the squadron, he was furious, and very plainly 
intimated to me that I would ' find myself off New 
Zealand in the morning,' to which I most decidedly 
demurred. We were lying still, while the other ships 
were fast disappearing from view ; the * Commodore ' 
going north, and the ' Essex Junior ' with her convoy 
steering to the south for Valparaiso. 

" I considered that my day of trial had arrived (for 
I was a little afraid of the old fellow, as every one 
else was). But the time had come for me at least 
to play the man: so I mustered up courage, and in- 
formed the captain that I desired the topsail filled 
away. He replied that he would shoot any man who 
dared to touch a rope without his orders; he 'would 
go his own course, and had no idea of trusting him- 
self with a d — d nutshell ' ; and then he went below 
for his pistols. I called my right-hand man of the 
crew, and told him my situation; I also informed him 
that I wanted the main topsail filled. He answered 
with a clear ' Ay, ay, sir ! ' in a manner which was not 
to be misunderstood, and my confidence was perfectly 
restored. From that moment I became master of the 
vessel, and immediately gave all necessary orders for 
making sail, notifying the captain not to come on deck 
with his pistols unless he wished to go overboard; for 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 235 

I would really have had very little trouble in having 
such an order obeyed." 

By the last of September Porter learned authori- 
tatively that he had captured all of the British whalers 
in the Pacific save one, and that, furthermore, the 
British frigate " Phoebe " and the sloops " Raccoon " 
and " Cherub ■' had been dispatched to those waters 
to end his career. This was good news to Porter, who 
was wearying of taking unarmed ships, but as he had 
been continually at sea for more than a year he deter- 
mined to seek a quiet harbor in which to refit. To 
this end he sought the Marquesas Islands, then a true 
Pacific tropical paradise, peopled by handsome and 
gentle natives unspoiled as yet by intercourse with white 
men. Here in the harbor of Nookahevah, Porter 
brought his ships to anchor and prepared for a two 
months' stay. Hardly had the ships cast anchor when 
the water alongside was fairly alive with canoes and 
swimming natives. They were not allowed to come 
on board, but were immensely pleased by some fish- 
hooks and bits of iron let down to them from the decks 
of the frigate. Not to be outdone in generosity, the 
islanders threw up to sailors cocoanuts, fruits, and fish. 
A boat-crew of jackies that went ashore was surrounded 
by a smiling, chattering throng of men, women, and 
children, who cried out incessantly, " Taya, taya " 
(friend, friend), and strove to bargain with them for 
fruits. They were a handsome, intelligent-looking peo- 
ple; tall, slender, and well-formed, with handsome 
faces, and complexion little darker than that of a 
brunette. The men carried white fans, and wore 
bracelets of human hair, with necklaces of whales' teeth 
and shells about their necks, — their sole articles of 
clothing. Both men and women were tattoed; though 
the women seemed to content themselves with bands 
about the neck and arms, while the men were elab- 



236 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

orately decorated from head to foot. Though some 
carried clubs and lances, they showed no signs of hos- 
tility, but bore themselves with that simple air of hos- 
pitality and unconscious innocence common to all sav- 
age peoples of tropical regions, uncorrupted by asso- 
ciation with civilized white men. 

It was not long, however, before the discovery was 
made that however gentle and childlike in their atti- 
tude toward the visitors, the natives were warlike 
among themselves. Three tribes struggled for the 
mastery of the island, and Porter soon saw that unless 
he threw his force to the support of one of the tribes 
all three would unite against him and make his position 
untenable. Accordingly, the curious spectacle was pre- 
sented of American tars, ten thousand miles from home, 
fighting side by side with naked barbarians, armed with 
spears and war-clubs. Naturally, the Typees, with 
whom the Americans were allied, were victorious, and 
with the islanders pacified, the work of refitting went 
on apace. By the 9th of December the " Essex " and 
" Essex Junior " were refitted, and stocked with fresh 
provisions of hogs, cocoanuts, and bananas; the " New 
Zealander," loaded with oil from the other prizes, was 
ordered to proceed to New York; while the "Green- 
wich," " Seringapatam," and " Hammond " were to 
remain at the islands until the " Essex " should return 
for them. These arrangements being made, the war- 
ships made ready to depart. The two war-vessels 
turned their heads toward Valparaiso, and made the 
port after an uneventful voyage of fifty-six days. The 
frigate entered the harbor at once, and cast anchor; 
while the " Essex Junior " was ordered to cruise about 
outside, keeping a close watch for the enemy's ships. 
The friendship of the people of the town seemed as 
great as during the first visit of the frigate to the port; 
and a series of entertainments was begun, that cul- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 237 

minated in a grand ball upon the " Essex " on the 
night of the 7th of February, 18 14. For that one 
night the officers of the " Essex Junior " were absolved 
from their weary duty of patrolling the sea at the 
mouth of the harbor. The vessel was anchored at a 
point that commanded a view of the ocean; and her 
officers, arrayed in the splendor of full dress, betook 
themselves on board of the frigate. At midnight, 
after an evening of dancing and gaiety. Lieutenant 
Downes left the " Essex," and returned to his vessel, 
which immediately weighed anchor and put to sea. The 
festivities on the frigate continued a little time longer; 
and then, the last ladies having been handed down the 
gangway, and pulled ashore, the work of clearing away 
the decorations began. While the ship's decks were 
still strewn with flags and flowers, while the awnings 
still stretched from stem to stern, and the hundreds 
of gay lanterns still hung in the rigging, the " Essex 
Junior " was seen coming into the harbor with a signal 
flying. The signal quartermaster rushed for his book, 
and soon announced that the flags read, " Two enemy's 
ships in sight." At this moment more than half the 
crew of the "Essex" were on shore; but a signal set 
at the ship's side recalled the men, and in an hour 
and a half the ship was ready for action; while the 
" Essex Junior " cast anchor in a supporting position. 
The two strange vessels were the " Cherub " and 
the " Phoebe," British men-of-war. They rounded 
into the harbor about eight A.M., and bore down to- 
wards the American ships. The " Phoebe," the larger 
of the two Englishmen, drew close to the "Essex"; 
and her commander. Captain Hillyar, sprang upon 
the taffrail, and asked after Captain Porter's health. 
Porter responded courteously; and, noticing that the 
" Phoebe " was coming closer than the customs of war- 
vessels in a neutral port permitted, warned the English- 



238 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

man to keep his distance, or trouble would result. Hill- 
yar protested that he meant no harm, but nevertheless 
continued his advance until the two ships were almost 
fouled. Porter called the boarders to the bow; and 
they crowded forward, armed to the teeth, and stripped 
for the fight. The " Phoebe " was in such a position 
that she lay entirely at the mercy of the " Essex," and 
could not bring a gun to bear in her own defence. 
Hillyar, from his position on the taffrail, could see the 
American boarders ready to spring at the word of 
command, and the muzzles of the cannon ready to 
blow the ship out of water. There is little doubt 
that he was astonished to find the " Essex " so well 
prepared for the fray, for he had been told that more 
than half her crew had gone ashore. Relying upon 
this information, he had probably planned to capture 
the " Essex " at her moorings, regardless of the neu- 
trality of the port. But he had now brought himself 
into a dangerous position, and Porter would have been 
justified in opening fire at once. But the apologies and 
protestations of the British captain disarmed him, and 
he unwisely let the " Phoebe " proceed unmolested. 

In his journal, Farragut thus describes this incident: 
" We were all at quarters, and cleared for action, 
waiting with breathless anxiety for the command from 
Captain Porter to board, when the English captain 
appeared, standing on the after-gun, in a pea-jacket, 
and in plain hearing said: 

" ' Captain Hillyar's compliments to Captain Porter, 
and hopes he is well.' 

"Porter replied: 'Very well, I thank you. But I 
hope you will not come too near, for fear some acci- 
dent might take place which would be disagreeable to 
you.' And, with a wave of his trumpet, the kedge- 
anchors went up to our yard-arms, ready to grapple 
the enemy. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 239 

" Captain Hillyar braced back his yards, and re- 
marked to Porter, that. If he did fall aboard him, he 
begged to assure the captain that It would be entirely 
accidental. 

" ' Well,' said Porter, ' you have no business where 
you are. If you touch a rope-yarn of this ship, I shall 
board Instantly.' " 

Notwithstanding Porter's forbearance, the incident 
came near leading to a battle, through the action of 
one of the crew, who had come off from shore with 
his brain rather hazy from heavy drinking. This man 
was standing by a gun, with a lighted brand In his 
hand, ready to fire the piece, when he thought he saw 
an Englishman grinning at him through one of the 
open ports of the " Phoebe." Highly enraged, he 
shouted out, " My fine fellow, I'll soon stop your mak- 
ing faces!" and reached out to fire the gun; when a 
heavy blow from an officer, who saw the action, 
stretched him on the deck. Had that gun been fired, 
nothing could have saved the " Phoebe." 

Porter now wished to get rid of some of the prizes 
with which he was encumbered. He could not burn 
them In the harbor, and the British ships kept too close 
a watch upon him to permit his ships to leave the har- 
bor for an hour: so he was forced to wait many days 
for an opportunity. On the 14th of February the 
opportunity came; and the "Hector" was towed out 
to sea, and set a-fire. Two weeks later, the " Phoebe " 
came alone to the mouth of the harbor, and, after show- 
ing her motto-flag, hove to, and fired a gun to wind- 
ward. This Porter understood to be a challenge, and 
he at once put out in the " Essex." But the " Phoebe " 
had no Intention of entering a fair and equal fight; 
for she quickly joined her consort, and the two then 
chased the " Essex " back to port. Much talk and a 
vast deal of correspondence grew out of this affair, 



240 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

which certainly did not redound to the credit of the 
British. 

On the 28th of March the wind blew with such 
force that the larboard cable of the "Essex" parted; 
and the ship, drifting before the wind, dragged her 
starboard cable out to sea. Knowing that the British 
ships were in waiting outside, Porter lost no time in 
getting on sail and trying to beat back into the harbor. 
But, just as the ship was rounding the point, there came 
up a heavy squall, which carried away the main top- 
mast, throwing several topmen into the sea. In her 
disabled state the frigate could not regain the harbor; 
but she ran into a little cove, and anchored within half 
pistol-shot of the shore. Here she was in neutral 
waters; and, had Captain Hillyar been a man of his 
word, the "Essex" would have been safe: for that 
officer, on being asked by Porter whether he would 
respect the neutrality of the port, had replied with 
much feeling, " You have paid so much respect to the 
neutrality of the port, that I feel bound in honor to 
respect it." But he very quickly forgot this respect, 
when he saw his enemy lying crippled and in his power, 
although in neutral waters. 

Hardly had the " Essex " cast anchor, when the two 
British ships drew near, their actions plainly showing 
that they intended to attack the crippled frigate. The 
" Essex " was prepared for action, the guns beat to 
quarters; and the men went to their places coolly and 
bravely, though each felt at his heart that he was go- 
ing into a hopeless fight. The midshipmen had hardly 
finished calling over the quarter-lists, to see that every 
man was at his station, when the roar of the cannon 
ftom the British ships announced the opening of the 
action. The " Phoebe " had taken up a position under 
the stern of the American frigate, and pounded away 
with her long eighteens; while the "Essex" could 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 241 

hardly get a gun to bear in return. The " Cherub " 
tried her fortune on the bow, but was soon driven 
from that position, and joined her consort. The two 
kept up a destructive fire, until Porter got three long 
guns out of the cabin-windows, and drove the enemy 
away. After repairing damages, the British took up 
a position just out of range of the " Essex's " carron- 
ades, and began a rapid and effective fire from their 
long eighteens. 

Such an action as this was very trying to the crew 
of the " Essex." The carronades against which Por- 
ter had protested when the ship was armed were utterly 
useless against an enemy who used such cautious tactics. 
On the deck of the frigate men were falling on every 
side. One shot entered a port, and killed four men 
who stood at a gun, taking off the heads of the last 
two. The crash and roar of the flying shots were in- 
cessant. As the guns became crippled for lack of men, 
the junior officers took a hand in all positions. Farra- 
gut writes : " I performed the duty of captain's aid, 
quarter-gunner, powder-boy, and, in fact, did every- 
thing that was required of me. . . . When my serv- 
ices were not required for other purposes, I generally 
assisted in working a gun; would run and bring powder 
from the boys, and send them back for more, until 
the captain wanted me to carry a message; and this 
continued to occupy me during the action." Once dur- 
ing the action a midshipman came running up to Por- 
ter, and reported that a gunner had deserted his post. 
Porter's reply was to turn to Farragut (the lad was 
only twelve years old), and say, " Do your duty, sir." 
The boy seized a pistol, and ran away to find the cow- 
ard, and shoot him in his tracks. But the gunner 
had slipped overboard, and made his way to the shore, 
and so escaped. 

After the " Essex " had for some time suffered from 



242 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the long-range fire of the enemy, Captain Porter deter- 
mined to make sail, and try to close with his foes. The 
rigging had been so badly shot away that the flying 
jib was the only sail that could be properly set. With 
this, and with the other sails hanging loose from the 
yards, the " Essex " ran down upon the British, and 
made such lively play with her carronades, that the 
" Cherub " was forced to haul off for repairs, and the 
tide of war seemed to be setting in favor of the Amer- 
icans. But, though the gallant blue-jackets fought with 
desperation, their chances for success were small. The 
decks were strewn with dead, the cockpit was full, and 
the enemy's shot were constantly adding to the number 
of dead and dying. Young Farragut, who had been 
sent below after some gun-primers, was coming up the 
ladder, when a man standing at the opening of the 
hatchway was struck full in the face by a cannon-ball, 
and fell back, carrying the lad with him. The muti- 
lated body fell upon the boy, who lay for a time un- 
conscious; then, jumping to his feet, ran, covered with 
blood, to the quarter-deck. Captain Porter saw him, 
and asked if he was wounded. " I believe not, sir," 
answered the midshipman. " Then," said the captain, 
" Where are the primers? " Farragut remembered his 
errand, and dashed below to execute it. When he 
emerged the second time, he saw the captain (his 
adopted father) fall, and running up asked if he was 
wounded. " I believe not, my son," was the response; 
" but I felt a blow on the top of my head." He had 
probably been knocked down by the wind of a passing 
shot. 

But the end of the action was now near. Dreadful 
havoc had been made in the ranks of both officers and 
men. The cockpit would hold no more wounded; and 
the shots were beginning to penetrate its walls, killing 
the sufferers waiting for the surgeon's knife. Lieuten- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 243 

ant McKnight was the only commissioned officer on 
duty. The ship had been several times on fire, and 
the magazine was endangered. Finally, the carpenter 
reported that her bottom was so cut up that she could 
float but a little while longer. On learning this. Por- 
ter gave the order for the colors to be hauled down, 
which was done. The enemy, however, kept up their 
deadly fire for ten minutes after the " Essex " had 
struck. 

David Farragut narrates some interesting incidents 
of the surrender. He was sent by the captain to find 
and destroy the signal book before the British should 
come aboard; and, this having been done, he went to 
the cockpit to look after his friends. Here he found 
Lieutenant Cornell terribly wounded. When Farra- 
gut spoke to him, he said, " O Davy, I fear it's all up 
with me ! " and died soon after. The doctor said, that, 
had this officer been operated upon an hour before, 
his life might have been saved; but when the surgeons 
proposed to drop another man, and attend to him, 
he replied, " No, no, doctor, none of that. Fair play's 
a jewel. One man's life is as dear as another's; I 
would not cheat any poor fellow out of his turn." 
Surely history nowhere records more noble generosity. 
Soon after this, when Farragut was standing on the 
deck, a little negro boy came running up to inquire 
about his master. Lieutenant Wilmer, who had been 
knocked over by a shot. On learning his master's fate, 
he leaped over the taffrail into the sea, and was 
drowned. 

After the " Essex " had been formally surrendered, 
boats were sent to convey the prisoners to the British 
ships. In one of these Farragut was carried to the 
" Phoebe," and there fell into a second battle, in which 
the victory remained with him. " I was so mortified at 
our capture that I could not refrain from tears," he 



244 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

writes. " While in this uncomfortable state, I was 
aroused by hearing a young reefer call out: 

"'A prize! a prize! Ho, boys, a fine grunter, by 
Jove.' 

" I saw at once that he had under his arm a pet 
pig belonging to our ship, called ' Murphy.' I claimed 
the animal as my own. 

" ' Ah,' said he, * but you are a prisoner, and your 
pig also ! ' 

" * We always respect private property,' I replied; 
and, as I had seized hold of ' Murphy,' I determined 
not to let go unless compelled by superior force. 

" This was fun for the oldsters, who immediately 
sung out: 

" ' Go it, my little Yankee. If you can thrash 
Shorty you can have your pig.' 

" ' Agreed,' cried I. 

" A ring was formed in an open space, and at it 
we went. I soon found that my antagonist's pugihstic 
education did not come up to mine. In fact, he was 
no match for me, and was compelled to give up the 
pig. So I took Master Murphy under my arm, feel- 
ing that I had in some degree wiped out the disgrace 
of the defeat." 

When the British ships with their prize returned to 
the quiet waters of the harbor, and began to take ac- 
count of damages, it was found that the " Essex " 
had indeed fought a losing fight. On the " Phoebe," 
but four men were killed, and seven wounded; on 
the " Cherub," one killed and three wounded, made 
up the list of casualties. But on the " Essex " were 
fifty-eight killed, and sixty-six wounded; while an im- 
mense number of men were missing, who may have 
escaped to the shore or may have sunk beneath the 
waves. Certain it is some swimmers reached shore, 
though sorely wounded. One man had rushed on deck 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 245 

with his clothing all aflame, and swam ashore, though 
scarcely a square inch could be found on his body which 
was not burned. Another seaman had sixteen or eight- 
een scales of iron chipped from the muzzle of his 
gun driven into his legs, yet he reached the shore in 
safety. 

After some delay, the " Essex Junior " was disarmed; 
and the prisoners, having given their paroles, were 
placed on board her, with a letter of safe-conduct from 
Captain Hillyar to prevent their capture by any Brit- 
ish man-of-war in whose path they might fall. But 
this letter availed them little; for, after an uneventful 
voyage to the northward, the " Essex Junior " found 
herself brought to by a shot from the British frigate 
" Saturn," off Sandy Hook. The boarding-officer 
took Captain Hillyar's letter to the commander of the 
" Saturn," who remarked that Hillyar had no authority 
to make any such agreement, and ordered the " Essex 
Junior " to remain all night under the lee of the British 
ship. Captain Porter was highly indignant, and 
handed his sword to the British officer, saying that 
he considered himself a prisoner. But the English- 
man declined the sword, and was about to return to 
his ship, when Porter said: "Tell the captain that I 
am his prisoner, and do not consider myself any longer 
bound by my contract with Captain Hillyar, which he 
has violated; and I shall act accordingly." By this 
Porter meant that he now considered himself absolved 
from his parole, and free to escape honorably if an 
opportunity should offer. 

Accordingly, at seven o'clock the following morning, 
a boat was stealthily lowered from the " Essex 
Junior"; and Porter, descending into it, started for 
the shore, leaving a message, that, since British officers 
showed so little regard for each other's honor, he had 
no desire to trust himself in their hands. The boat 



246 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

had gone some distance before she was sighted by the 
lookout on the " Saturn," for the hull of the " Essex 
Junior " hid her from sight. As soon as the flight 
was noticed, the frigate made sail in chase, and seemed 
likely to overhaul the audacious fugitives, when a thick 
fog set in, under cover of which Porter reached Baby- 
lon, L. I., nearly sixty miles distant. In the mean- 
time, the " Essex Junior," finding herself hidden from 
the frigate by the fog-bank, set sail, and made for the 
mouth of the harbor. She was running some nine 
knots an hour when the fog showed signs of lifting; 
and she came up into the wind, that the suspicion of 
the British might not be aroused. As it happened, 
the " Saturn " was close alongside when the fog lifted, 
and her boat soon came to the American ship. An 
officer, evidently very irate, bounded upon the deck, 
and said brusquely: 

" You must have been drifting very fast. We have 
been making nine knots an hour, and yet here you are 
alongside." 

" So it appears," responded the American lieutenant 
coolly. 

" We saw a boat leave you, some time ago," con- 
tinued the Englishman. " I suppose Captain Porter 
went in it? " 

" Yes. You are quite right." 

" And probably more of you will run away, unless 
I cut away your boats from the davits." 

" Perhaps that would be a good plan for you to 
adopt." 

" And I would do it very quickly, if the question 
rested with me." 

" You infernal puppy," shouted the American officer, 
now thoroughly aroused, " if you have any duty to do, 
do it; but, if you insult me further, Pll throw you 
overboard ! " 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 247 

With a few inarticulate sounds, the Englishman 
stepped into his boat, and was pulled back to the " Sa- 
turn," whence soon returned a second boat, bearing 
an apology for the boarding-officer's rudeness. The 
boarders then searched all parts of the ship, mustered 
her crew on the plea that it contained British deserters, 
and finally released her, after having inflicted every 
possible humiliation upon her officers. The " Essex 
Junior " then proceeded to New York, where she was 
soon joined by Captain Porter. The whole country 
united in doing honor to the officers, overlooking the 
defeat which closed their cruise, and regarding only 
the persistent bravery with which they had upheld the 
cause of the United States in the far-off waters of the 
Pacific. 



CHAPTER XIV 

" Peacock " and " Epervier " — The Disappearance of the " Wasp " — 
Bombardment of Stonington — The Capture of Washington — 
Fort McHenry — Battle of New Orleans. 

The year 1814 Is not glorious In American naval his- 
tory, for Its record In the main was one of disaster. 
Its story redounds but little to the honor of the British, 
for their greatest victories, though gallantly won, were 
marred by violations of the code of civilized warfare 
that caused even London journals to cry out In protest 
and rebuke. It would almost seem that Jackson's vic- 
tory at New Orleans, fought after the treaty of peace 
had been signed at Ghent, came as a fateful rebuke to 
Cockburn and his marauders. 

First of the notable actions of the war was that 
of the " Peacock " — new sloop-of-war bearing the name 
of a British prize — and the " Epervier." Cruising in 
March off the coast of Florida, the Americans encoun- 
tered three British merchantmen, with a man-of-war 
to convoy them. The merchantmen scudded for 
safety; the sloop-of-war "Epervier," with eighteen 
guns and one hundred and twenty-eight men, came 
boldly on to the battle, though much Inferior to the 
" Peacock." 

The two ships bore down gallantly upon each other, 
and at a little after ten In the morning passed, exchang- 
ing heavy broadsides. The shot of each took effect 
In the rigging; but the " Peacock" suffered the more, 
having her foreyard totally disabled, — an Injury that 
compelled her to run large during the rest of the 
action, and forego all attempts at manoeuvring. The 
two vessels having passed each other, the " Epervier " 

248 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 249 

eased off, and returned to the fight, running on a paral- 
lel course with the American ship. The Interchange 
of broadsides then became very rapid; but the British 
marksmanship was poor, and few of their shot took 
effect. The " Epervler," on the contrary, suffered 
severely from the American fire, which took effect In 
her hull, dismounting several guns, and so injuring the 
brig that a British naval officer, writing of the action 
some years later, said: "The most disgraceful part of 
the affair was that our ship was cut to pieces, and the 
enemy hardly scratched." 

The Injury aloft which both vessels sustained caused 
the battle to take on the character of an action at long 
range. Under such conditions, the victory was as- 
sured to the side showing the best gunnery. For a 
moment only did it seem that the vessels were likely 
to come to close quarters, and the English captain 
seized that occasion to call up his boarders. But they 
refused, saying, " She's too heavy for us." A few 
minutes later the Englishman hauled down his flag, 
having lost nine killed or mortally wounded, and four- 
teen wounded. The Americans had suffered but little; 
only two men being injured, and these but slightly. 
The shot of the enemy had passed through the rigging 
of the " Peacock," while the " Epervler " had been 
hulled forty-five times. 

The " Epervler " proved to be a valuable prize. In 
her hold specie to the amount of one hundred and 
eighteen thousand dollars was found; and, when the 
brig was sold to the United States Government, she 
brought fifty-five thousand dollars: so that the prize- 
money won by that action kept the sailors in good 
humor for many months to come. But, before the 
prize could be safely carried into an American port, 
she had a gantlet to run, in which she narrowly escaped 
capture. After the wreck of battle had been cleared 



250 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

away, the brig and her captor made for Savannah, but 
were sighted and chased by two British frigates. The 
" Peacock," in the hope of drawing away the pursuers, 
left her prize, and headed out to sea. One frigate 
only followed her, and the other pressed on hotly after 
the " Epervier," which, to avoid capture, was forced 
to run into shallow water, whither the heavy frigate 
could not follow her. But she was not to escape so 
easily; for the boats of the frigate were lowered, filled 
with armed men, and set out in pursuit of the brig, 
which moved but slowly before the light breeze then 
blowing. The boats soon overhauled the fugitive, and 
escape seemed hopeless; for the "Epervier" was 
manned by a prize-crew of only sixteen men. But 
Lieutenant Nicholson, who was in command, deter- 
mined to try the effect of bluster. Accordingly he 
leaped upon the taffrail, with a speaking-trumpet in 
his hand, and shouted out orders as if calling a huge 
crew to quarters. The British, who were within easy 
range, stopped their advance, and, fearing a destructive 
broadside from the brig's guns, turned and fled pre- 
cipitately. The " Epervier " continued her course, and 
reached Savannah in safety on the ist of May. The 
" Peacock " reached the same port four days later. 

In the very week when the " Peacock " reached port 
with her prize the new sloop-of-war " Wasp," named 
after the gallant little brig that had been captured after 
defeating the " Frolic," slipped through the blockade 
at Portsmouth and out to sea. 

At daylight on the 28th of June, the "Wasp" 
sighted two merchantmen, and straightway gave chase. 
Soon a third vessel was discovered on the weather- 
beam; and, abandoning the vessels first sighted, the 
American bore down upon the stranger. She proved 
to be the " Reindeer," a British brig-sloop of eighteen 
guns, carrying a crew of one hundred and eighteen 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 251 

men. Although the British vessel was by no means a 
match in weight of metal for the " Wasp," her captain, 
William Manners, brought her into action with a cool 
gallantry which well justified his reputation as one of 
the bravest men in the British navy. 

At ten o'clock in the morning the ships were near 
enough to each other to exchange signals, but several 
hours were spent in manoeuvring for the weather-gage; 
so that it was not until after three in the afternoon 
that the action fairly opened. The day was admirably 
suitable for a naval battle. Light clouds floated across 
the sky, and the gentle breeze that was blowing had 
sufficient strength to propel the ships without careening 
them. The surface of the ocean was unusually calm 
for that quarter, in which a rather choppy sea is usually 
running. Before the light breeze the " Wasp " came 
down upon her foe, bows on, with her decks cleared 
for action, and the men at their quarters. On the 
top-gallant forecastle of the " Reindeer " was mounted 
a twelve-pound carronade, and the action was opened 
by the discharge of this piece. In the position she 
then held the "Wasp" was unable to reply; and her 
crew had to bear five effective shots from this gun with- 
out being able to fire a shot in return, — an ordeal that 
less well-disciplined crews might not have endured. 
For nine minutes the Americans returned not a shot; 
but then the " Wasp " luffed up, firing the guns from 
aft forward as they bore. The two ships were now 
lying broadside to broadside, not twenty yards apart, 
and every shot told. For ten minutes this position 
was held, and the two crews worked like Furies in 
loading and firing the great guns. The roar of the 
cannon was incessant, and the recoil of the heavy ex- 
plosions deadened what little way the ships had on 
when fire was opened. Captain Manners was too old 
an officer not to know, that, in an artillery duel of 



252 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

that kind, the victory would surely rest with the side 
that carried the heaviest guns : so he ran his vessel 
aboard the " Wasp " on the starboard quarter, intend- 
ing to board and carry the day with the stubborn, dash- 
ing gallantry shown by British seamen when once led 
to an enemy's deck. At the ringing notes of the bugle, 
calling up the boarders, the British gathered aft, their 
faces begrimed with gunpowder, their arms bare, and 
their keen cutlasses firmly clutched in their strong right 
hands. The Americans took the alarm at once, and 
crowded forward to repel the enemy. The marines, 
whose hard duty it Is in long-range fighting to stand 
with military impassiveness, drawn up in line on deck, 
while the shot whistle by them, and now and then cut 
great gaps in their straight lines, — the marines came 
aft, with their muskets loaded and bayonets fixed. Be- 
fore them were sailors with sharp-pointed boarding- 
pikes, ready to receive the enemy should he come 
aboard; while close under the bulwarks were grouped 
the boarders, ready with cutlass and pistol to beat back 
the flood of men that should come pouring over the 
side. The grating of the ships' sides told that the 
vessels were touching; and the next instant the burly 
British seamen, looming up like giants, as they dashed 
through the dense murkiness of the powder-smoke, 
were among the Americans, cutting and firing right 
and left. From the deck of the " Reindeer " the ma- 
rines kept up a constant fire of musketry, to which the 
sea-soldiers of the " Wasp " responded vigorously. 
Marksmen posted in the tops of each vessel picked off 
men from their enemy's decks, choosing generally the 
officers. 

Sharp and bloody though the British attack was, 
the boarders could make no way against the stubborn 
stand of the Americans. Captain Manners, seeing his 
men beaten back, sprang forward to rally them. He 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 253 

was desperately wounded. A gun-shot had passed 
through his thighs, and a grape-shot had cut across 
the calves of his legs; but, maimed and bleeding to 
death as he was, he leaped Into the rigging, and, cheer- 
ing and waving his sword, called to his men to follow 
him to the decks of the Yankee. The Britons rallied 
nobly under the encouragement of their brave captain, 
and again advanced to the assault. But the figure of 
the daring officer, as he stood thus before his men, 
waving' his sword and calling on them to come on, 
caught the eye of one of the men in the " Wasp's " 
main-top; and the next Instant a ball crashed Into the 
captain's brain, and he fell heavily to the deck, with 
his dying eyes turned upwards toward the flag in whose 
service he had given his life. 

Seeing the British captain fall and the men waver, 
Captain Blakely with a cheer called up the boarders 
of the " Wasp "; and in an instant a stream of shout- 
ing sailors, cutlass In hand, was pouring over the ham- 
mock-nettings, and driving the foe backward on his 
own decks. The British still fought stubbornly; but 
their numbers were terribly thinned, and their officers 
had fallen one by one, until now the captain's clerk 
was the highest officer left. Seeing his men falling 
back before the resistless torrent of boarders, this 
gentleman finally struck the flag; and the battle ended, 
twenty-seven minutes after the " Reindeer " had fired 
the opening gun, and eighteen after the " Wasp " had 
responded. 

The execution and damage done on the " Reindeer " 
by the " Wasp's " shot were appalling. Of her crew 
of one hundred and eighteen men, thirty-three were 
killed or fatally wounded, and thirty-four were 
wounded. The havoc wrought among her officers has 
already been mentioned. Evidence of the accuracy 
and skill of the American gunners was to be seen in 



254 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the fact that the brig was completely cut to pieces in 
the line of her ports. Her decks were swept clean of 
boats, spars, and rigging. Her masts were badly shat- 
tered, and her fore-mast soon went by the board. The 
" Wasp " had suffered severely, but was in much bet- 
ter condition than her captured adversary. Eleven of 
her crew were killed or mortally wounded, and fifteen 
were wounded severely or slightly. She had been 
hulled by six round and many grape-shot, and her 
fore-mast had been cut by a twenty-four-pound shot. 
A few hours' work cleared from her decks all trace 
of the bloody fight, and she was in condition for an- 
other action. But it would have been folly to try 
to get the crippled " Reindeer " to port from that 
region, swarming with British cruisers: so Captain 
Blakely took the prisoners on the " Wasp," put a few 
of the wounded on a neutral vessel that happened to 
pass, and, burning the prize, made his way to the 
harbor of I'Orient. He had fought a brave fight, and 
come out victor after a desperate contest. But, though 
defeated, the plucky British might well boast of the 
gallant manner in which they engaged an enemy so 
much their superior in strength. History nowhere 
records a more gallant death than that of the British 
captain, who fell leading his men In a dashing but vain 
attempt to retrieve the day by boarding. In its manoeu- 
vring, In the courage and discipline of the crews, and 
in the gallantry of the two captains, the action of the 
" Wasp " and the " Reindeer " may well go down to 
history as a model naval duel of the age of sails. 

After winning this victory the " Wasp " furnished 
the history of the sea with one of Its most mysterious 
chapters. Heard from but twice again, she vanished 
from the face of the waters. No wreckage was left 
to tell the tale; no survivors, or even floating bodies, 
were ever found to throw light on her disappearance. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 255 

The last heard of her was when in mid-ocean she over- 
took a peaceful Swedish ship, and took aboard two 
American passengers who preferred to sail under the 
Stars and Stripes. Thereafter history knew her no 
more. 

Much of the British naval activity in this year of 
American disaster was centred on the blockade, bom- 
bardments, and shore raids. The mildness with which 
the inhabitants of the New England coast had been 
treated gave way to severity almost equal to that of 
Cockburn on the " Chesapeake." From Maine to the 
mouth of the Connecticut River the people were panic- 
stricken, and hardly a night passed without the flames 
of some bonfire kindled by the enemy out of American 
farm-houses. 

Yet, in the main, these operations were of little effect 
on the progress of the war. They sorely injured peace- 
able people, but had little effect on the temper of the 
nation. Sometimes they ended in ridiculous fiascoes, 
as in the famous bombardment of Stonington. 

In August, 18 14, Commodore Hardy appeared off 
that village with a fleet of several vessels, headed by 
the seventy-four " Ramillies." Casting anchor near 
shore, he sent to the mayor and selectmen the follow- 
ing curt note : " Not wishing to destroy the unoffending 
inhabitants residing in the town of Stonington, one 
hour is granted them, from the receipt of this, to re- 
move out of town." This message naturally caused 
great consternation; and, while messengers were sent 
in all directions to call together the militia, the answer 
was returned to the fleet : " We shall defend the place 
to the last extremity. Should it be destroyed, we will 
perish in its ruins." And, having thus defied the 
enemy, the farmers and fishermen who inhabited the 
town set about preparing for its defence. The one 



256 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

battery available for service consisted of two eighteen- 
pounders and a four-pounder, mounted behind earth 
breastworks. The gunners were put under the com- 
mand of an old sailor, who had been impressed into 
the British navy, where he served four years. The 
skill he thus acquired In gunnery, he now gladly used 
against his former oppressors. It was near nightfall 
when the British opened fire; and they kept up a con- 
stant cannonade with round shot, bombs, Congreve 
rockets, and carcasses until near midnight, without do- 
ing the slightest damage. The bursting shells, the 
fiery rockets, and the carcasses filled with flaming chem- 
icals, fairly filled the little wooden village with fire; 
but the exertions of the people prevented the spread 
of the flames. The fleet ceased firing at midnight, 
but there was no peace for the villagers. Militiamen 
were pouring in from the country round about, labor- 
ers were at work throwing up breastwork, carriers were 
dashing about In search of ammunition, and all was 
activity, until, with the first gleam of daylight, the fire 
of the ships was re-opened. The Americans promptly 
responded, and soon two eighteen-pound shot hulled the 
brig " Despatch." For an hour or two a rapid fire 
was kept up; then, the powder giving out, the Amer- 
icans spiked their largest gun, and, nailing a flag to 
the battery flag-staff, went in search of more ammuni- 
tion. The British did not land; and the Americans, 
finding six kegs of powder, took the gun to a black- 
smith, who drilled out the spike, and the action con- 
tinued. So vigorous and well directed was the fire 
of the Americans, that the " Despatch " was forced to 
slip her cables and make off to a place of safety. That 
afternoon a truce was declared, which continued until 
eight the next morning. By that time, the Americans 
had assembled In sufliclent force to defeat any landing 
party the enemy could send ashore. The bombard- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 257 

ment of the town continued; but the aim of the British 
was so inconceivably poor, that, during the three days' 
firing, no damage was done by their shot. A more 
ludicrous fiasco could hardly be imagined, and the 
Americans were quick to see the comical side of the 
affair. Before departing, the British fired over fifteen 
tons of lead and iron into the town. A quantity of 
this was picked up by the Americans, and offered for 
sale. In a New York paper appeared the advertise- 
ment: 

Just received, and offered for sale, about three tons of round 
shot, consisting of six, nine, twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, and 
thirty-two pounds ; very handsome, being a small proportion of those 
which were fired from His Britannic Majesty's ships on the un- 
offending inhabitants of Stonington, in the recent brilliant attack 
on that place. Likewise a few carcasses, in good order, weighing 
about two hundred pounds each. Apply, etc. 

A popular bard of the time set forth in rollicking 
verse the exploits of the British gunners: 

They killed a goose, they killed a hen, 
Three hogs they wounded in a pen ; 
They dashed away, — and pray what then? 
That was not taking Stonington. 

The shells were thrown, the rockets flew; 
But not a shell of all they threw — 
Though every house was full in view — 
Could burn a house in .Stonington. 

But the war along the Southern seaboard had noth- 
ing farcical about it. The American forces in the 
Chesapeake and tributary waters consisted of twenty- 
six gunboats and barges manned by nine hundred men, 
under the command of Commodore Barney, a veteran 
of the Revolution. The British had a fleet of ocean- 
going vessels, varying in numbers from time to time, 
but always thrice as powerful as Barney's little flotilla. 



258 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Several attempts were made by Admiral Cockburn to 
brush the Americans out of his path — for his eyes 
were fixed on Washington — but the assailants were al- 
ways beaten back, or tactically outwitted by the Amer- 
ican commander. At last came a determined effort, 
which ended in the one disgraceful disaster to the 
American arms during the whole course of the war. 
It was in May of 1814 that a British expedition of 
more than five thousand men — composed of regulars, 
marines, and a few negroes — was carried up the Pa- 
tuxent, and landed at Benedict, where an armed brig 
had been stationed to cover the disembarkation. It 
was early dawn when the signal to land was given, 
and the river was covered in an instant with a well- 
manned and warlike flotilla. It was hard work for 
the British sailors, for a strong current was running; 
but by three o'clock in the afternoon the whole army 
was landed, and encamped in a strong position on a 
hill overlooking the village. Though no American 
troops were anywhere in the vicinity, the landing was 
conducted with the utmost caution. As the prow of 
each boat grated on the sand, the soldiers leaped on 
the beach, and instantly drew up in line, ready to repel 
any attack. After the infantry v/as landed, about a 
hundred artillerymen followed, and the same number 
of sailors dragging howitzers. 

It is easily understood that this powerful force was 
not organized solely to destroy Barney's pitiful little 
flotilla. The real purpose of the British commander 
was to press on into the interior, and capture Wash- 
ington, which the Americans had foolishly left without 
any defences whatever. It came to Barney's ears that 
Admiral Cockburn had boasted that he would destroy 
the American flotilla, and dine in Washington the fol- 
lowing Sunday. This news the American commodore 
sent off to the authorities at the capital, and they then 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 259 

began to make futile preparations to repel the invader. 
In the meantime the British commenced their march 
up the shores of the Patuxent, meeting with no opposi- 
tion. Barney, knowing that the defence of the national 
capital was of far greater importance than the fate 
of his flotilla, landed with four hundred men, and 
hastened to the American lines before Washington. He 
left the barges under the command of the second lieu- 
tenant, Mr. Frazier, with instructions to set fire to 
every boat on the appearance of the enemy, and then 
join the commodore with all the men left under his 
charge. Accordingly, when the invading column 
reached Nottingham, Mr. Frazier took the flotilla still 
higher up the creek, — a move that vastly disconcerted 
the British, who saw their prey eluding them. " But 
In the main object of our pursuit we were disappointed," 
wrote a British officer. " The flotilla which had been 
stationed opposite to Nottingham retired, on our ap- 
proach, higher up the stream; and we were conse- 
quently in the situation of a huntsman who sees his 
hounds at fault, and has every reason to apprehend 
that his game will escape." But the game never fell 
into the hands of the ardent hunters; for the next day 
Mr. Frazier fulfilled his orders by setting fire to every 
barge, and, after seeing several of the larger boats 
blow up, mustered his men, and cut across the country, 
to join his superior officer. The British naval forces 
soon after reached Pig Point, the scene of this destruc- 
tion, and there remained; while the land forces im- 
mediately turned away from the river, and marched 
upon Washington. 

It is not necessary to give In detail the incidents of 
the series of skirmishes by which the British fought 
their way to the American capital. They were op- 
posed by raw militia, and the few sailors and marines 
under Barney. The former fled with promptitude at 



26o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the very first fire, but the sailors and marines fought 
gallantly. The fighting was sharpest at Bladensburg; 
and here Barney's blue-jackets won praise from every- 
body, even from the enemy whose advance they dis- 
puted. Barney himself led the Americans, and sighted 
a favorite gun of the sailors' battery, until he fell 
desperately wounded. This battery commanded the 
road by which the main column of British advanced; 
and by its hail of grape and canister it beat back 
the advancing regiments, and for some time checked 
their further progress. The British thereupon opened 
with rockets, and sent out sharpshooters to pick off 
the Yankee gunners. One of these riflemen was ob- 
served by the Americans to deliberately build for him- 
self a small redoubt of stones from an old wall; and, 
lying down behind it, he began a deliberate fire upon 
the Americans. His first bullet went through the cap 
of one of the sailors, and the second sent a poor fellow 
to his long account. The marines answered with their 
muskets; but the fellow's stone rampart saved him, and 
he continued his fire. Barney vowed to put an end 
to that affair, and, carefully sighting one of his cannon, 
pulled the lanyard. The heavy round shot was seen 
to strike the sharpshooter's defence, and stone and man 
disappeared in a cloud of dust. Meantime, the enemy 
had thrown out flanking parties under cover of the 
woods, and had nearly surrounded the little band of 
sailors. A musket-ball struck Barney in the thigh, 
and he began to grow faint with loss of blood; and, 
finding that the militia had fled, and the sailors were 
becoming exhausted, the commodore ordered a retreat. 
The blue-jackets left the field in good order; but their 
gallant commander had gone but a few steps, when 
the pain of his wound forced him to lie down under 
a tree, and await the coming of the enemy. The Brit- 
ish soon came up, led by General Ross and Captain 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 261 

Wainwright of the navy. After learning Barney's 
rank, and courteously offering to secure surgical aid, 
the general turned to his companion, and, speaking of 
the stubborn resistance made by the battery, said, " I 
told you it was the flotilla men." — " Yes. You were 
right, though I could not believe you," was the re- 
sponse. " They have given us the only fighting we 
have had." 

Meanwhile, the British, having routed the Amer- 
icans at every point, pressed on to Washington. The 
inhabitants fled before them, and the town was almost 
deserted when the British marched in with banners fly- 
ing and bands playing. The enemy held the city for 
only a day; but in that time they did such deeds of 
vandalism, that even the people and the press of Lon- 
don cried out in indignation. The President's house, 
the Capitol, all the public buildings except the Patent 
Ofiice, were burned to the ground. The navy-yard, 
with the uncompleted ships on the stocks, was likewise 
burned; but in this the enemy only acted in accordance 
with the rules of war. It was their destruction of 
the public buildings, the national archives, and the Con- 
gressional library, that aroused the wrathful indigna- 
tion of all fair-minded people, whether Americans or 
Europeans. " Willingly," said one London news- 
paper, " would we throw a veil of oblivion over our 
transactions at Washington. The Cossacks spared 
Paris, but we spared not the capital of America." A 
second English journal fitly denounced the proceedings 
as " a return to the times of barbarism." 

But, if the invaders are rightly to be blamed for 
the useless vandalism they encouraged, the American 
authorities are still more culpable for their neglect of 
the most ordinary precautions of war. That a national 
capital, close to the sea, should be left virtually un- 
protected while the enemy was massing his forces only 



262 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

a few miles away, seems almost unbelievable. But 
so it was with Washington; for five hundred flotilla 
men were forced to bear the brunt of the attack of five 
thousand British. True it is that the military authori- 
ties had massed seven thousand militiamen for the de- 
fence of the city; but such was the trepidation of these 
untrained soldiers, that they fled before the main body 
of the British had come into the fight. That the sail- 
ors and marines fought bravely, we have the testimony 
of the British themselves. Mr. Gleig, a subaltern in 
the attacking army, writes: "Of the sailors, however, 
it would be injustice not to speak in the terms which 
their conduct merits. They were employed as gun- 
ners; and not only did they serve their guns with a 
quickness and precision which astonished their assail- 
ants, but they stood till some of them were actually 
bayoneted with fuses in their hands; nor was it till 
their leader was wounded and taken, and they saw 
themselves deserted on all sides by the soldiers, that 
they quitted the field." Therefore, in the battle of 
Bladensburg, the blue-jackets won nothing but honor, 
though the results of the battle were so mortifying to 
the national pride of the people of the United States. 

After this success the British redoubled their maraud- 
ing operations. There was no longer an American 
naval force on the Chesapeake to oppose them. Soon 
their ambitions turned to higher things, and they 
planned the capture of Baltimore. In this high enter- 
prise they failed, though as the navy had no part 
in the conflict, the story has no place in this book. 
The invaders were beaten back by the stubborn de- 
fence of Fort McHenry, and sailed away after doing 
no damage, and having given occasion to Francis Scott 
Key to write the national anthem, " The Star-Spangled 
Banner." As by this time about all the damage that 
could be done on the coasts of the Delaware and 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 263 

Chesapeake had been accomplished, most of the British 
force moved southward to take part in the expedition 
against New Orleans. 

Early In December the movement of the British upon 
New Orleans took definite shape. On the 8th of that 
month, the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, off 
the Chandeleur Islands, were the scene of a grand ren- 
dezvous of British naval and military forces. All 
the vessels of Cockburn's Chesapeake fleet were there, 
with other men-of-war, transports, and schooners, to 
the number of fifty vessels. At the head was the 
towering two-decker " Tonnant," carrying the Ad- 
miral's flag. Frigates, corvettes, and sloops-of-war 
came trooping In the rear; and the transports bore seven 
thousand men for the capture of the Southern city. 
The British were in high good-humor as the anchors 
were let fall and the ships swung round with their 
heads to the tide. The voyage across the gulf from 
the rendezvous at Jamaica had been like a holiday 
trip. The weather had been fine, and the sea smooth ; 
and the soft air of that semi-tropical region was a 
never-ending source of delight to sailors who had been 
suffering the hardships of a Northern station. 

The point at which the British fleet had come to 
anchor lay about fifty miles due east of New Orleans. 
In that day of sailing-vessels, no enemy could breast 
the waters of the rolling Mississippi and crush the re- 
sistance of the city's defenders, as did Farragut In 
1862. Knowing that they could not hope to take 
their ships up to the levee of the city, the enemy deter- 
mined to cast anchor near the entrance of Lake Borgne, 
and send through a chain of lakes and bayous a mam- 
moth expedition in barges, to a point within ten miles 
of the city. But this well-laid plan had been betrayed 
to the Americans by Lafitte; and a little band of Amer- 
ican sailors, under the command of Lieutenant Catesby 



264 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Jones, had taken up a position at the Rigolets, and 
were prepared to dispute the farther progress of the 
invading forces. Five gunboats, and one hundred and 
eighty-five men, constituted the American force, which 
for a time held the British in check. Finally, the 
enemy, finding that the swift American cutters could 
easily evade the lumbering war-vessels, fitted out a 
fleet of forty-five barges, manned by a thousand vet- 
eran British sea-dogs, who had seen service in half 
a dozen naval wars. The Americans had news of 
the contemplated attack, and made skilful preparations 
to meet it. The gunboats were moored in a fore and 
aft line, at a point near the Rigolets. Their broad- 
sides bore upon the enemy, and the shallowness of the 
water was such that by no means could they be sur- 
rounded. The sailors were prepared for a desperate 
conflict, and spent the night before the battle in tricing 
up the boarding-nettings, sharpening cutlasses, and get- 
ting small arms in good trim. In the morning the 
British came on to the attack. It was a long pull 
from the fleet to the place of battle : so their com- 
mander brought his flotilla to anchor just out of range 
of the American guns; and there the grim old veterans 
devoured their dinners, and took their rations of grog, 
with appetites undisturbed by the thought of the com- 
ing conflict. Dinner over, the enemy weighed anchor, 
and dashed forward, with long, swift strokes, into the 
very flashes of the Americans' cannon. The Amer- 
icans knew that their one chance of victory was to 
keep the overwhelming forces of their foe out of board- 
ing distance, and they worked their guns with a rapid- 
ity born of desperation. Musket-bullets, grape-shot, 
and canister poured in a murderous fire upon the ad- 
vancing boats. But the sturdy old British veterans 
knew that the best way to stop that fire was to get 
at the base of it; and they pressed on undauntedly, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 265 

responding vigorously, meanwhile, with their bow guns. 
Soon they were up to the gunwales of the American 
flotilla, and the grappling-irons were fixed; then, with 
sharp blows of cutlasses, deadly play of the pikes, and 
a ceaseless rattle of small arms, they poured upon the 
decks of the Americans. The boarding-nettings could 
not long check so furious a foe, and fell before the 
fierce slash of the cutlasses. The decks once gained, 
the overpowering numbers of the Englishmen crushed 
all further resistance; and the flotilla was finally taken, 
after about one hundred of the enemy and fifty Amer- 
icans had fallen. 

The American flotilla being thus shattered, there re- 
mained no further obstacle to prevent the landing of 
the invading army. Of the advance of that brilliant 
body of veteran troops over sands and marshes, and 
through sluggish bayous and canals half-full of stag- 
nant water, until they emerged on the bank of the river, 
nine miles below New Orleans, it is not my purpose 
to speak further. Nor does an account of General 
Jackson's vigorous measures of defence and glorious 
victory come within the province of this narrative. 
The interesting story of Jackson's creation of an army 
from leather-shirted Kentucky riflemen, gay Creoles 
from the Creole Quarter of the Crescent City, swarthy 
Spaniards and mulattoes, nondescript desperadoes from 
the old band of Lafitte, and militia and regulars from 
all the Southern States, forms no part of the naval 
annals of the war. It is enough to say that the flower 
of the British army, led by a veteran of the Peninsula, 
recoiled before that motley crew of untrained soldiers, 
and were beaten back, leaving their gallant leader and 
thousands of their brave men dead upon the field. The 
navy was not without some share in this glorious tri- 
umph. On the 23d of December the schooner " Caro- 
lina " dropped down from New Orleans, and opened 



266 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

fire upon the enemy. " Now, then, for the honor of 
America, give it to them ! " sung out her commander, 
as the first broadside was fired. The attack, unexpected 
as it was, created a panic in the British camp. A 
feeble reply was made with rockets and musketry; but 
even this was soon discontinued, and the enemy took 
refuge under the steep bank of the levee, whither the 
plunging shot could not follow them. All night the 
" Carolina " kept up her fire; and, when at daybreak 
she moved away, she left the camp of the enemy in con- 
fusion. During the day she renewed the attack, and 
persisted in her fire until the British threw up a heavy 
battery on the river's bank, and replied. The lads 
of the " Carolina " promptly accepted the challenge 
thus offered, and for a time a spirited combat was main- 
tained. But the battery threw red-hot shot, and the 
schooner was soon set on fire and destroyed. Mean- 
while the corvette " Louisiana " had come down to 
the scene of action, and in the subsequent engagements 
did some effective work. When the final onslaught 
of the British was made, on January 7, 18 15, the 
guns of the " Louisiana " were mounted on the oppo- 
site bank of the river, and the practised sailors worked 
them with deadly effect, until the flight of the Amer- 
ican militia on that side exposed the battery to certain 
capture. The sailors then spiked their guns, and 
marched off unmolested. The sailors of the " Caro- 
lina," on that day of desperate fighting, were in the 
centre of Jackson's line, between the Creoles and the 
swarthy Baratarians under Dominique Yon. Here 
they worked their howitzers, and watched the scarlet 
lines of the enemy advance and melt away before that 
deadly blaze; advance and fall back again in hopeless 
rout. And among the many classes of fighting men 
whom Jackson had rallied before that British line, 
none did battle more valiantly for the honor of the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 267 

nation and the safety of the flowery city of New Or- 
leans than did those blue-jackets ashore. 

It Is a fitting commentary upon the folly of war, 
that the battle of New Orleans was fought after the 
two warring nations had signed a treaty of peace. The 
lives of some hundreds of brave Englishmen and Amer- 
icans were needlessly sacrificed In a cause already de- 
cided. Far across the Atlantic Ocean, in the quaint 
old Dutch city of Ghent, representatives of England 
and the United States met, and, after some debate, 
signed the treaty on the 24th of December, 18 14. But 
there was then no Atlantic cable, no " ocean grey- 
hounds " to annihilate space and time; and it was 
months before the news of the treaty reached the scene 
of war. In the meantime, the hostilities were con- 
tinued by land and sea. 



CHAPTER XV 

" Constitution," " Cyane," and " Levant " — Loss of the " President " 
— Captain Reid — The "General Armstrong" — "Peacock" and 
" Nautilus " — Close of the War. 

Though the treaty of peace had been signed in the 
last week of 1814, hostilities on the ocean continued 
for some months. Frigates were cruising far and 
wide, and no means existed for notifying them of the 
formal end of the war — indeed, New York and Wash- 
ington knew nothing of it for more than two months. 
Among the ships thus cruising, destined to wind up 
her career with a most glorious victory, was the gallant 
" Constitution." 

On the morning of the 20th of February, 18 15, as 
the ship was running aimlessly before a light wind, in 
European waters, some inexplicable impulse led Cap- 
tain Stewart to suddenly alter his course and run off 
some sixty miles to the southwest. Again the " Con- 
stitution's " good luck seemed to justify the sailors' 
belief, for at noon she ran into a group of vessels. 
The first vessel was sighted on the larboard bow, and, 
as the frigate overhauled her, proved to be a full-rigged 
ship. Soon after a second sail, also a ship, was sighted; 
and a few minutes more sufficed to show that both 
were men-of-war. The one first sighted was the frig- 
ate-built corvette " Cyane," of thirty-four guns; and 
the second was the sloop-of-war " Levant," of twenty- 
one guns. For either of these vessels singly, the " Con- 
stitution," with her fifty-two guns and crew of four 
hundred and fifty men, was more than a match. Yet 
to attack the two was a bold movement, and this Stew- 
art determined to undertake. Hardly had the char- 

268 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 269 

acter of the strangers been made out, when the corvette 
was seen making signals to the sloop; and the two ves- 
sels, then about ten miles apart, made all sail to get 
together before the enemy should overhaul them. This 
juncture was precisely what Stewart wished to prevent; 
and in a trice the shrill notes of the boatswain's whistle 
sent the sailors in swarms into the rigging, and the 
frigate was as if by magic clothed with a broad ex- 
panse of canvas. Quickly she felt the effect, and 
bounded through the water after the distant ships like 
a dolphin chasing a school of flying-fish. The old 
tars on the forecastle looked knowingly over the side 
at the foamy water rushing past, and then cast approv- 
ing glances aloft where every sail was drawing. But 
their complacency was shattered by a loud crash aloft, 
which proved to be the main royal-mast which had 
given way under the strain. Another spar was rigged 
speedily, and shipped by the active tars, and soon the 
snowy clouds aloft showed no signs of the wreck. 
At sundown the three vessels were so near each other 
that their colors could be seen. Stewart ran up the 
Stars and Stripes, to which the strangers responded 
by setting the British flag at their mastheads. 

The purpose of the enemy was to delay the opening 
of the action until night should give him opportunity 
to manoeuvre unobserved; but the " Constitution," sus- 
pecting this, pressed forward hotly, and opened fire 
a few minutes after six o'clock. By skilful seaman- 
ship Stewart kept the windward gage of both enemies; 
and the fight opened with the " Cyane " on the port- 
quarter, and the " Levant " on the port-bow of the 
American frigate. Fifteen minutes of fierce cannonad- 
ing followed, the combatants being within musket-shot 
most of the time. Every gun was engaged; and the 
heavy broadsides shook the ships, and thundered far 
over the placid surface of the ocean, which was now 



270 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

faintly illumined by the rising moon. The triangular 
space between the ships was filled with the dense sul- 
phurous smoke of the burning powder; so that the gun- 
ners could see nothing of the enemy at whom they were 
hurling their ponderous iron bolts. The men in the 
tops could now and again catch a glimpse of the top 
hamper of the enemy's ships, but those on the gun- 
deck were working almost at random. After a few 
minutes of rapid firing, the fire of the enemy slackened; 
and Stewart directed his gunners to cease until the 
smoke should have cleared away. At this command a 
silence, almost oppressive after the heavy cannonading, 
ensued, broken only by the occasional report of a gun 
from the unseen enemy, sounding like minute-guns of 
distress. Anxiously Stewart waited for the smoke to 
blow away. When It did so, the " Cyane " was seen 
luffing up, to come under the frigate's stern, and get 
in a raking broadside. The movement was discovered 
just In time to be checked. Stewart gave a heavy 
broadside to the "Levant"; then, bracing back his 
topsails, backed his ship down abreast of the " Cyane," 
pouring In rapid broadsides, before which the fire of 
the corvette died away. Two raking broadsides that 
crashed Into the stern of the " Levant " sent that craft 
out of the action, to refit. The frigate then pressed 
down upon the " Cyane," and with a few heavy broad- 
sides forced her to strike. 

Captain Douglass of the " Levant " then proved his 
bravery by standing by his captured consort; although 
he could have escaped easily, while the " Constitution " 
was taking possession of her prize. No thought of 
flight seems to have occurred to the gallant Briton, 
though he must have known that there was but little 
hope of his coming out of the combat victorious. Still 
he boldly came back Into the fight, meeting the " Con- 
stitution " ploughing along on the opposite tack. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 271 

Broadsides were exchanged at such close range that 
the Yankee gunners could hear the ripping of the 
planks on the enemy's decks as the solid shot crashed 
through beam and stanchion. Having passed each 
other, the ships wore, and returned to the attack; 
but the weight of the American's metal told so 
severely upon the " Levant " that her flag was 
hauled down, and, firing a gun to leeward, she gave 
up the fight. 

As an exhibition of seamanship, this action is un- 
rivalled in naval annals. For Stewart to have taken 
his ship into action with two hostile vessels, and so 
handle her as not only to escape being raked, but 
actually rake his enemies, was a triumph of nautical 
skill. The action was hard fought by both parties. 
The loss upon the British vessels has never been exactly 
determined; but it was undoubtedly large, for the hulls 
were badly cut up by the American's fire. The " Con- 
stitution " had but three men killed, and twelve 
wounded. The officers all escaped unhurt. 

After a few hours' pause to repair damages, Stewart 
took his prizes into Porto Prayo, in the Cape Verde 
Islands. There he was discovered by a superior Brit- 
ish fleet. The " Constitution " and " Cyane " escaped, 
but the " Levant " remained at anchor, trusting to the 
neutrality of the pdrt for protection. It was leaning 
on a broken reed. Not only did the British war-vessel 
attack instantly, but a hundred or more prisoners who 
had been paroled and sent ashore, broke their paroles, 
seized a fort by the harbor side, and turned its guns 
on the American ship, which was speedily compelled to 
surrender. 

It was late in May before the " Constitution " 
reached New York. Peace had then been declared; 
but none the less were Stewart and his men feasted 
and honored. The old frigate had won for herself 



272 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

a name ever to be remembered by the people of the 
nation, in whose service she had received and dealt 
so many hard knocks. " Old Ironsides," they called 
her; and even to-day, when a later war has given to 
the navy vessels whose sides are literally iron, the 
'* Constitution " still holds her place in the hearts of 
the American people, who think of her lovingly by the 
well-won title of " Old Ironsides." 

Unluckily for the American arms the honor won 
by the " Constitution " was offset by the loss of the 
" President " immediately off New Yor"k harbor. On 
the night of the 14th of January she started to run 
the blockade of that harbor. Her cruise was laid to 
avoid the blockaders, but, as luck would have it, they 
had been forced from their accustomed positions by 
heavy weather and she ran into their midst. More- 
over, she grounded and was seriously injured when the 
enemy was sighted. Before daylight the lookout re- 
ported two sail in sight, and at daybreak the ship was 
fairly surrounded by the enemy's vessels. All at once 
gave chase to the luckless American; and a few hours 
were enough to show that her sailing qualities were so 
seriously injured by her pounding on the bar, that the 
enemy was rapidly overhauling her. Decatur adopted 
every known expedient to increase his ship's speed, but 
to no avail. After she had been lightened by starting 
the water, cutting away boats and anchors, chopping 
up and heaving overboard the ponderous cables, to- 
gether with spars and provisions, the enemy still gained; 
and the foremost pursuer, a razee, opened fire. The 
" President " responded with her stern-chasers, but her 
shot had no effect. " It is said that on this occasion," 
writes Cooper, " the shot of the American ship were 
observed to be thrown with a momentum so unusually 
small, as to have since excited much distrust of the 
quality of her gunpowder. It is even added, that many 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 273 

of these shot were distinctly seen, when clear of the 
smoke, until they struck." At six o'clock in the even- 
ing, the frigate " Endymion " led the British squadron 
in chase, and had gained a position so close upon the 
American's beam that her broadsides were rapidly 
crippling the fugitive. Thereupon Decatur determined 
upon a desperate expedient, that sounds like some of 
his reckless exploits in the war with Tripoli. His plan 
was to bring the " President " about, and run boldly 
alongside the enemy. Everything was to be sacrificed 
to the end of getting to close quarters. When once 
the two ships had grappled, the Americans were to 
board, carry the British ship in a hand-to-hand battle, 
and then, abandoning the crippled " President," escape 
in the captured frigate. So desperate a plan needed 
the cordial co-operation of every man : so it was first 
presented to the commissioned officers, who gladly em- 
braced the desperate project. The sailors were then 
sent aft, and Decatur addressed them from the quarter- 
deck. 

" My lads," said he, " that ship is coming up with 
us. As our ship won't sail, we'll go on board of theirs, 
every man and boy of us, and carry her into New 
York. All I ask of you is to follow me. This 
is a favorite ship of the country. If we allow 
her to be taken, we shall be deserted by our wives 
and sweethearts. What, let such a ship as this go for 
nothing ! 'Twould break the heart of every pretty girl 
in New York." 

With hearty cheers, the jackies returned to their 
guns. All were ready for the coming struggle. Over 
the main hatch was mounted a howitzer, with its black 
muzzle peering down into the hold, ready to scuttle 
the ship when the boarders should spring upon the 
enemy's deck. The sun, by this time, had sunk below 
the horizon, and the darkness of night was gathering 



274 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

over the ocean. The two ships surged toward each 
other, — great black masses, lighted up on either side 
by rows of open ports, through which gleamed the un- 
certain light of the battle-lanterns. On the gun-deck 
the men stood stern and silent; their thoughts fixed 
upon the coming battle, or perhaps wandering back to 
the green fields and pleasant homes they had so recently 
left, perhaps forever. The gray old yeoman of the 
frigate, with his mates, walked from gun to gun, si- 
lently placing a well-sharpened cutlass, a dirk, and a 
heavy leather boarding-cap at each man's side. The 
marines were drawn up in a line amidships; their erect, 
soldierly air and rigid alignment contrasting with the 
careless slouchiness of the sailors. Butts for the sail- 
ors' ridicule as they were during a cruise, the marines 
knew that, in hand-to-hand conflicts, their part was 
as dashing as that of their tormentors of the fore- 
castle. 

When the " President " had come within a quarter 
of a mile of her adversary, Decatur perceived that his 
enemy was determined to decide the contest at long 
range. As the " President " hauled down nearer, the 
*' Endymion " sheered off, keeping up meanwhile a 
vigorous cannonade. To this the Americans responded 
in kind; and so much superior was the gunnery of 
the Yankee tars, that the rigging of the enemy was 
seen to be fast going to pieces, while her guns were 
being silenced one by one. But her fire did sad havoc 
among the men of the " President," and particularly 
among the officers. The first broadside carried away 
Decatur's first lieutenant, Mr. Babbitt, who was struck 
by a thirty-two-pound shot, which cut off his right leg 
below the knee, and hurled him through the ward-room 
hatch to the deck below, fracturing his wounded leg 
in two places. Shortly after, Decatur was knocked to 
the deck by a heavy splinter. For some time he lay 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 275 

unconscious; then opening his eyes, and seeing a throng 
of anxious seamen about him, he ordered them to their 
stations, and resumed his duties. The fire of the 
" Endymion " then slackened; and she lay upon the 
water, with her sails cut from the yards. At that 
moment Lieutenant Howell turned to a midshipman 
standing at his side, and said gaily, " Well, we have 
whipped that ship, at any rate." A flash from the 
bow of the Englishman followed; and he added, " No, 
there she is again." The midshipman turned to reply, 
and saw Howell stretched dead at his feet, killed by 
the last shot of the battle. 

The enemy was now helpless, and it would have 
been easy enough for the " President " to choose her 
position and compel her adversary to strike; but the 
presence of two more Englishmen, rapidly coming up 
astern, forced the Americans to abandon their prey 
and continue their flight. It was then late in the even- 
ing, and the night was dark and starless. Every light 
was extinguished on the American frigate, in the hope 
that by so doing she might slip away under cover of 
the night. But the British lookouts were sharp-eyed; 
and by eleven o'clock two frigates had closed in on 
the crippled ship, and a third was rapidly coming up 
astern. All were pouring in rapid broadsides, and 
the dark waters were lighted up like a fiery sea by the 
ceaseless flashing of the guns. Thus surrounded and 
overpowered, there remained open to the Americans no 
course but to surrender; and at eleven o'clock at night 
the " President " made signal that she had struck. Her 
fate, like that of the " Chesapeake," had accorded with 
the superstitious sailor's notion that she was an " un- 
lucky " ship. 

One other action of this year of war after peace 
was declared must be passed over with a mere mention. 
The little " Hornet," always a lucky ship, under com- 



276 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

mand of Captain Biddle, took the brig " Penquin " 
after a fierce and bloody conflict. This was the last 
prize of the war. 



While the operations of the privateers during the 
War of 1 8 12 were full of daring and of picturesque 
incident, I have foreborne to tell of it here. That 
story would be a volume in itself. But one fight of 
a private armed vessel had so great an influence upon 
the final outcome of the war that its story becomes 
pertinent. 

On the 26th of September, 18 14, the privateer, "Gen- 
eral Armstrong," Captain Samuel C. Reid, was lying at 
anchor in the roadstead of Fayal. Over the land that 
inclosed the snug harbor on three sides waved the flag 
of Portugal, a neutral power, but unfortunately one of 
insufficient strength to enforce the rights of neutrality. 
While the " Armstrong " was thus lying in the port, a 
British squadron, composed of the *' Plantagenet," 
seventy-four; the "Rota," thirty-eight; and "Carna- 
tion," eighteen, hove in sight, and soon swung into 
the harbor and dropped anchor. Reid watched the 
movements of the enemy with eager vigilance. He 
knew well that the protection of Portugal would not 
aid him in the least should the captain of that seventy- 
four choose to open fire upon the " Armstrong." The 
action of the British in coming into the harbor was 
in itself suspicious, and the American had little doubt 
that the safety of his vessel was in jeopardy. While 
he was pacing the deck, and weighing in his mind the 
probability of an assault by the British, he caught sight 
of some unusual stir aboard the hostile ships. It was 
night; but the moon had risen, and by its pale light 
Reid saw four large barges let fall from the enemy's 
ships, and, manned by about forty men each, make 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 277 

toward his vessel. In an instant every man on the 
privateer was called to his post. That there was to 
be an attack was now certain; and the Americans deter- 
mined not to give up their vessel without at least a 
vigorous attempt to defend her. Reid's first act was 
to warp his craft under the guns of a rather dilapidated 
castle, which was .supposed to uphold the authority of 
Portugal over the Island and adjacent waters. Hardly 
had the position been gained, when the foremost of 
the British boats came within hail, and Captain Reid 
shouted, "Boat ahoy I What boat's that?" No re- 
sponse followed the hail; and it was repeated, with 
the warning, " Answer, or I shall fire into you." Still 
the British advanced without responding; and Reid, 
firmly convinced that they purposed to carry his ship 
with a sudden dash, ordered his gunners to open on the 
boats with grape. This was done, and at the first 
volley the British turned and made off. Captain Reid 
then warped his vessel still nearer shore; and bending 
springs on her cable, so that her broadside might be 
kept always toward the enemy, he waited a second at- 
tack. At midnight the enemy were seen advancing 
again, this time with fourteen barges and about five 
hundred men. While the flotilla was still at long range, 
the Americans opened fire upon them with the heavy 
" Long Tom " ; and, as they came nearer, the full bat- 
tery of long nine-pounders took up the fight. The 
carnage in the advancing boats was terrible; but the 
plucky Englishmen pushed on, meeting the privateer's 
fire with volleys of musketry and carronades. Despite 
the American fire, the British succeeded In getting under 
the bow and quarter of the " Armstrong," and strove 
manfully to board; while the Americans fought no less 
bravely to keep them back. The attack became a 
furious hand-to-hand battle. From behind the board- 
ing-nettings the Americans thrust pikes, and fired pistols 



278 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

and muskets, at their assailants, who, mounted on each 
other's shoulders, were hacking fiercely at the nettings 
which kept them from gaining the schooner's deck. 
The few that managed to clamber on the taffrail of the 
" Armstrong " were thrust through and through with 
pikes, and hurled, thus horribly impaled, into the sea. 
The fighting was fiercest and deadliest on the quarter; 
for there were most of the enemy's boats, and there 
Captain Reid led the defence in person. So hot was 
the reception met by the British at this point, that they 
drew off in dismay, despairing of ever gaining the 
privateer's deck. Hardly did Reid see the enemy thus 
foiled on the quarter, when a chorus of British cheers 
from the forecastle, mingled with yells of rage, told 
that the enemy had succeeded in effecting a lodgment 
there. Calling his men about him, the gallant captain 
dashed forward and was soon in the front rank of 
the defenders, dealing furious blows with his cutlass, 
and crying out, " Come on, my lads, and we'll drive 
them into the sea." The leadership of an officer was 
all that the sailors needed. The three lieutenants on 
the forecastle had been killed or disabled, else the enemy 
had never come aboard. With Reid to cheer them 
on, the sailors rallied, and with a steady advance drove 
the British back into their boats. The disheartened 
enemy did not return to the attack, but returned to their 
ships, leaving behind two boats captured and two sunk. 
Their loss in the attack was thirty-four killed and 
eighty-six wounded. On the privateer were two killed 
and seven wounded. 

But the attack was not to end here. Reid was too 
old a sailor to expect that the British, chagrined as 
they were by two repulses, were likely to leave the 
privateer in peace. He well knew that the withdrawal 
of the barges meant not an abandonment, but merely a 
short discontinuance, of the attack. Accordingly he 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 279 

gave his crew scarcely time to rest, before he set them 
to work getting the schooner in trim for another battle. 
The wounded were carried below, and the decks cleared 
of splinters and wreckage. The boarding-nettings were 
patched up, and hung again in place. *' Long Tom " 
had been knocked off his carriage by a carronade shot, 
and had to be remounted; but all was done quickly, and 
by morning the vessel was ready for whatever might 
be in store for her. The third assault was made soon 
after daybreak. Evidently the enemy despaired of 
his ability to conquer the privateersmen in a hand-to- 
hand battle; for this time he moved the brig " Carna- 
tion " up within range, and opened fire upon the 
schooner. The man-of-war could fire nine guns at a 
broadside, while the schooner could reply with but 
seven; but " Long Tom " proved the salvation of the 
privateer. The heavy twenty-four-pound shots from 
this gun did so much damage upon the hull of the 
brig, that she was forced to draw out of the action; 
leaving the victory, for the third time, with the Amer- 
icans. 

But now Captain Reid decided that it was folly to 
longer continue the conflict. The overwhelming force 
of the enemy made any thought of ultimate escape 
folly. It only remained for the British to move the 
seventy-four " Plantagenet " into action to seal the 
doom of the Yankee privateer. The gallant defence 
already made by the Americans had cost the British 
nearly three hundred men in killed and wounded; and 
Reid now determined to destroy his vessel, and escape 
to the shore. The great pivot-gun was accordingly 
pointed down the main hatch, and two heavy shots sent 
crashing through the bottom. Then applying the 
torch, to make certain the work of destruction, the 
privateersmen left the ship, giving three cheers for 
the gallant " General Armstrong," as a burst of flame 



28o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

and a roar told that the flames had reached her 
magazine. 

This gallant action won loud plaudits for Captain 
Reid when the news reached the United States. Cer- 
tainly no vessel of the regular navy was ever more 
bravely or skilfully defended than was the " General 
Armstrong." But, besides the credit won for the 
American arms, Reid had unknowingly done his coun- 
try a memorable service. The three vessels that at- 
tacked him were bound to the Gulf of Mexico, to assist 
in the attack upon New Orleans. The havoc Reid 
wrought among their crews, and the damage he in- 
flicted upon the " Carnation," so delayed the New 
Orleans expedition, that General Jackson was able to 
gather those motley troops that fought so well on the 
plains of Chalmette. Had It not been for the plucky 
fight of the lads of the " General Armstrong," the 
British forces would have reached New Orleans ten 
days earlier, and Packenham's expedition might have 
ended very differently. 

The war was now virtually at an end. Its last 
action was a foolish and a useless one. The sloop 
" Peacock," returning to New York, fell in with the 
British brig " Nautilus " and prepared to give it action. 
The captain of the latter knew of the declaration of 
peace and shouted the intelligence to Captain Warring- 
ton of the American ship, who thought it a subterfuge 
and opened fire. The " Nautilus " was badly cut up, 
and eight of her crew killed, before she struck. When 
Warrington boarded he found his foe had told the 
truth. Of course there were profuse apologies and 
expressions of regret, but the cruel mischief had been 
done. 

When the " Peacock " reached port, the last of the 
cruisers had returned; and the war was over in fact, 
as it had long been over technically. It has become the 




s e 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 281 

fashion to say that it was a useless war, that served 
no purpose, because the treaty by which it was ended 
contained no reference to the hateful doctrine of the 
right to search, which, more than anything else, had 
brought on the conflict. Yet, though the conduct of 
the war had not led the British formally to renounce 
their claims in this respect, the exploits of the American 
navy had shown that the Yankee blue-jackets were pre- 
pared to, and would, forcibly resent any attempt on 
the part of the British to put those claims into practice. 
The British had entered upon the war gaily, never 
dreaming that the puny American navy would offer 
any serious resistance to Great Britain's domination 
upon the ocean. Yet now, looking back over the three 
years of the war, they saw an array of naval battles, 
in the majority of which the Americans had been vic- 
torious; and in all of which the brilliancy of American 
naval tactics, the skill of the officers, and the courage 
and discipline of the crews, put the younger combatants 
on a plane with the older and more famous naval serv- 
ice. Fenimore Cooper, in his " History of the Navy 
of the United States," thus sums up the results of this 
naval war: " The navy came out of this struggle with 
a vast increase of reputation. The brilliant style in 
which the ships had been carried into action, the steadi- 
ness and accuracy with which they had been handled, 
and the fatal accuracy of their fire on nearly every occa- 
sion had produced a new era in naval warfare. Most 
of the frigate actions had been as soon decided as 
circumstances would at all allow; and in no instance 
was it found necessary to keep up the fire of a sloop- 
of-war an hour, when singly engaged. Most of the 
combats of the latter, indeed, were decided in about 
half that time. The execution done in these short con- 
flicts was often equal to that made by the largest vessels 
of Europe in general actions; and, in some of them, 



282 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the slain and wounded comprised a very large proper- 
tlon of their crews. . . • The ablest and bravest cap- 
tains of the English fleet were ready to admit that a 
new power was about to appear upon the ocean, and 
that it was not improbable the battle for the mastery 
of the seas would have to be fought over again. 



CHAPTER XVI 

Peace Again — The Decadence of the Navy — Its Work in the 
Mexican War — Perry and Japan — The Battle in the Pei Ho — 
" Blood Thicker than Water." 

From the close of the War of 1812 to the opening 
of the Civil War the work of the navy was largely 
desultory. Exploring expeditions, cruises for the pur- 
pose of letting foreign peoples know that the United 
States had still an armed force afloat, kept busy the 
ships still in commission, until in 1846 the declaration 
of war against Mexico gave opportunity for real serv- 
ice. Of course, at that time the navy had fallen to 
its lowest estate. The thirty years and more of peace 
had encouraged the opponents of a suitable navy, and 
no new ships were built, while many of the old ones 
were laid up to rot in navy-yard anchorages. But 
when Mexico's growing antagonism, encouraged by 
specious promises of aid from France and England, 
menaced not merely the then Republic of Texas, but 
the United States ownership of California as well, the 
remnants of the navy were first to hurry to the scene 
of forthcoming war. It was not a war upon the 
ocean. While we had but a puny navy, the Mexicans 
had none at all. But in every considerable land battle 
the blue-jackets fought side by side with soldiers, 
though in the newspapers of the day all honor and 
glory were conceded to the army. Yet one who knows 
the California of to-day may read in the names of its 
cities, great streets, and other public places evidence of 
the part the navy had in winning the Golden State 
for the Union. No name is more closely identified 
with California than that of Commodore Robert F. 

283 



284 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Stockton. In July, 1846, he was put in command of 
the Pacific squadron. Some work had already been 
done. Isolated vessels of this fleet had begun the work 
of holding California, but there were no soldiers at 
the seat of war save a battalion of engineers under 
command of Mayor John C. Fremont. 

Some work had already been done by the navy on 
the coast. Captain Sloat, who preceded Stockton in 
command, had seized Monterey, taken possession of 
San Francisco Bay and the surrounding country, and 
garrisoned Sutter's Fort on the Sacramento River. 
When Stockton arrived all seaports, of which there are 
few on the California coast, were in control of the 
United States navy. His operations, therefore, were 
conducted inland, and his sailors fought far from the 
ships. 

Captain Stockton planned an expedition against Los 
Angeles before the well-armed Mexican soldiers in the 
province could be brought together. He landed three 
hundred and fifty sailors and marines and established a 
camp at San Pedro. Captain Stockton's biographer 
says: "There were only about ninety muskets in the 
whole corps. Some of the men were armed with car- 
bines, others had only pistols, swords, or boarding- 
pikes. They presented a motley and peculiar appear- 
ance, with great variety of costume. Owing to their 
protracted absence from home the supplies of shoes and 
clothing had fallen short; and the ragged and diversi- 
fied colors of their garments, as well as the want of 
uniformity in their arms and accoutrements, made them 
altogether a spectacle both singular and amusing." The 
Mexican forces at Los Angeles outnumbered Captain 
Stockton's land forces three to one, so he resorted to 
a stratagem to deceive the enemy as to his force. A 
flag of truce having appeared on the hills, " he ordered 
all his men under arms and directed them to march 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 285 

three or four abreast, with intervals of considerable 
space between each squad, directly in the line of vision 
of the approaching messengers, to the rear of some 
buildings on the beach, and thence to turn in a circle 
and continue their march until the strangers had ar- 
rived. Part of the circle described in the march was 
concealed from view, so that to the strangers it would 
appear that a force ten times greater than the actual 
number was defiling before them. When the two 
bearers of the flag of truce had arrived he ordered them 
to be led up to him alongside of the artillery, which 
consisted of several six-pounders and one thirty-two- 
pound carronade. The guns were all covered with 
skins so as to conceal their dimensions except the huge 
mouth of the thirty-two-pounder at which the captain 
was stationed to receive his guests. ... As his pur- 
pose was intimidation he received them with much 
sternness." They asked for a truce, but Stockton de- 
manded and secured an immediate and absolute sur- 
render, as the evident object of the Mexicans was to 
gain time. Stockton at once began his tedious march 
to Los Angeles, his men dragging the cannon through 
the sand. On the 12th of August, he received a mes- 
sage from the Mexican general, saying " if he marched 
on the town he would find it the grave of his men." 
He replied: " Then tell your general to have the bells 
ready to toll at eight o'clock in the morning. I shall 
be there at that time." He was as good as his word. 
The next morning he was joined by Fremont and his 
men, who had come up from San Diego and they 
entered Los Angeles unopposed. He organized a civil 
government for the entire state, with Major Fremont 
as the head of it, and returning to his ships sailed 
northward on the 5th of September, 1846. The news 
of these operations was sent to Washington overland 
by the famous scout, Kit Carson. 



286 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Thereafter, until the end of the war, the American 
sailors were chiefly engaged in defending, and, in some 
instances, recapturing what they had taken. The Mex- 
ican troops were superior in number, but much inferior 
in dash and courage, and the blue-jackets found little 
difficulty in holding their own. 

The operations on the eastern, or Gulf coast, of 
Mexico, engaged a much larger naval force, but had 
no such effect upon the later history of our country 
as Stockton's seizure of California. At times we had 
stationed there as many as twenty-four vessels of war, 
including steam frigates and sloops then for the first 
time employed in war. In the main, however, this 
force was occupied in blockading service — the most 
tedious, wearing duty that falls to the lot of the navy. 
Into the details of this service it would be but uninter- 
esting to go. There was little effort to run the block- 
ade, and less prize-money for the blockaders. Per- 
haps the only incident which combined adventure with 
dash and personal heroism may be quoted from the 
" Recollections of a Naval Officer," by Captain Wil- 
liam Harwar Parker. He was telling of the blockade 
at Vera Cruz in 1846. He says: 

One of the finest fellows in the service I often met on Green 
Island. I allude to Passed Midshipman Hynson, of Maryland. He 
was drowned in the brig " Somers," when she capsized in the fall of 
this year. At the time of her sinking, Hynson had both of his 
arms bandaged and in a sling, and was almost helpless. It was said 
that when the brig sank he managed to get hold of a spar with 
another man, and finding it would not support two he deliberately 
let go his hold. It was like him. The way he happened to have his 
arm in a sling was this : While the " Somers " was maintaining the 
blockade of Vera Cruz, a vessel managed to slip in — I think she was 
a Spanish schooner. The Mexicans moored her to the walls of 
the Castle of San Juan for safety ; but the officers of the " Somers " 
resolved to cut her out or burn her. Hynson was the leading 
spirit in the affair, though Lieutenant James Parker, of Pennsylvania, 
was the senior officer. They took a boat one afternoon and pulled 
in to visit the officers of an English man-of-war lying under 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 287 

Sacrificios Island. It was quite usual to do this. After nightfall 
they left the British ship and pulled directly for the schooner, 
which they boarded and carried. This, be it observed, was directly 
under the guns of the castle and the muskets of its garrison. The 
crew was secured, and finding the wind would not serve to take 
the vessel out, it was resolved to burn her. Her captain made 
some resistance, and the sentinel on the walls called out to know 
what was the matter. Parker, who spoke Spanish remarkably well, 
replied that his men were drunk and he was putting them in irons. 
The party then set fire to the vessel and got safely away with 
their prisoners. It was in setting fire to the schooner that Hynson 
got so badly burned. 

In regard to the personal heroism shown by Hynson 
and others when the " Somers " went down, Lieutenant 
Raphael Semmes, in his book, " Service Afloat and 
Ashore During the Mexican War," said: 

Those men who could not swim were selected to go into the boat. 
A large man by the name of Seymour, the ship's cook, having got 
into her, he was commanded by Lieutenant Parker to come out, in 
order that he might make room for two smaller men, and he obeyed 
the order. He was afterward permitted to return to her, however, 
when it was discovered that he could not swim. Passed Midshipman 
Hynson, a promising young officer, who had been partially disabled 
by a bad burn received in firing the " Creole " a few days previously, 
was particularly implored to go into the boat. A lad by the name 
of Nutter jumped out of the boat and offered his place to Hynson, 
and a man by the name of Powers did the same thing. Hynson 
refusing both offers, these men declared that then others might 
take their places, as they were resolved to abide in the wreck with 
him. Hynson and Powers were drowned. Nutter was saved. 
When the plunge was made into the sea, Sailing-Master Clemson 
seized a studding-sail boom, in company with five of the seamen. 
Being a swimmer, and perceiving that the boom was not sufficiently 
buoyant to support them all, he left it and struck out alone. He 
perished — the five men were saved. 

The last notable service of the navy in the Mexican 
War was in co-operation with the army under General 
Winfield Scott at the siege and capture of Vera Cruz. 
General Scott had nearly fifteen thousand men under 
his command. On the 20th of March, 1847, after the 



288 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

city had refused to surrender, he began Its bombard- 
ment. Commodore Matthew C. Perry had just been 
put in command of the fleet, succeeding Commodore 
Conner, who was invalided home. 

General Scott soon saw that his guns were not strong 
enough to batter down the walls of the city, so he 
requested Commodore Perry to send him some heavy 
guns. The commodore's gallant reply was: "Cer- 
tainly, General, but I must fight them." And fight 
them he did, as we shall see. Six heavy pieces of 
ordnance were landed, and about two hundred seamen 
and volunteers were attached to each gun. Three of 
these were sixty-eight-pounder shell guns and three 
thirty-two-pounder solid-shot guns. Each of these guns 
weighed about three tons. Now each of these had 
to be dragged through the loose sand, almost knee- 
deep, for something like three miles before it could 
be put in the position the engineers had assigned to it. 
This battery, by the way, was protected by bags of 
sand piled on each other, and this was the first time 
that this device had been used. When the battery was 
in position the officers and men of the ships were so 
anxious to fight it that, to prevent jealousy, the officers 
first to be assigned drew lots for the honor. The 
first day Captain Aulick commanded, and the next day 
Captain Mayo. The naval battery fired with such 
precision that they did amazing damage to the enemy's 
works, and on the second day the guns in Vera Cruz 
were silenced. Then began a parley as to terms, but 
on the 28th there was an unconditional surrender. Now 
Scott had a foothold in the part of Mexico which 
counted for something, and he was able to begin his 
masterly march through the Valley of Mexico and on 
to the capital of the country. But he never could have 
obtained this foothold without the assistance of the 
navy. The country did not recognize this at once, and 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 289 

the newspapers being printed by landsmen, all of the 
immediate glory was bestowed on General Scott. 

Thereafter, there was little work for the navy in the 
Mexican War. The fighting was far inland, and 
though fierce in some instances — as at the Castle of 
Chapultepec — was uniformly in favor of the forces of 
the United States. Yet it was an unpopular war from 
the start — denounced in our northeastern States as un- 
just and piratical. To-day, when we see that it added 
to our domain California, Texas, and the line of south- 
western States and Territories, leaving Mexico coher- 
ent, prosperous, and safe under the protection of her 
big northern brother, we may feel that contemporary 
judgments of the merits of a war are not always to be 
trusted. 

Fourteen years of peace now settled over the navy. 
Again it was cut down to the smallest possible size. 
The few vessels left in commission were engaged in 
exploration — as in the case of the two expeditions sent 
to the Arctic to search for Sir John Franklin, — in the 
suppression of the slave trade, and in suppressing piracy 
in Asiatic waters. Doubtless the service rendered dur- 
ing this period which had the most far-reaching in- 
fluence, not only upon our own country, but upon the 
civilized world, was that of Commodore M. C. Perry 
in opening Japan to trade and intercourse with the 
world. The early fifties were an era of exploring ex- 
peditions for the navy. There were trips up the rivers 
into unknown regions of South America and Africa. 
The Isthmus of Darien was explored, and an ambitious 
scheme to cut a ship-channel through was found to be 
impracticable. It was very natural, during this activity 
in penetrating little-known parts of the world, that 
attention should have been given to Japan, which was 
a land of mystery to the world at large because of 



290 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the exclusion of foreigners from that country. In 
1852, Captain Perry was assigned the command of the 
squadron cruising in the East Indies, and was em- 
powered, in addition to his ordinary duties, to make 
a display of force in the waters of Japan in order to 
obtain better treatment for American seamen cast upon 
Japanese shores, and to gain entry into Japanese ports 
for vessels seeking supplies. He bore a letter, more- 
over, from the President of the United States to the 
Emperor of Japan, written with a view to obtaining 
a treaty providing for friendly intercourse and com- 
merce with the haughty island kingdom. On the 8th 
of July, the squadron, comprising the frigates " Mis- 
sissippi," "Susquehanna," and "Powhatan"; the cor- 
vette " Macedonian "; the sloops-of-war " Plymouth," 
"Saratoga," and "Vandalia"; and the store-ships 
" Supply," " Southampton," and " Lexington," an- 
chored off the city of Uraga, in the Bay of Jeddo, 
Japan. Captain Perry decided that the proper course 
to pursue with the Japanese was to assume a very lofty 
and commanding tone and bearing. He therefore or- 
dered away from the sides of his vessel the boats which 
swarmed around it, and allowed none but government 
officials of high rank to come on board. He himself 
remained in seclusion in his cabin, treating with the 
Japanese through intermediaries. He moved his 
squadron nearer the capital than was allowable, and 
then demanded that a special commission, composed 
of men of the highest rank, be appointed to convey 
his letter from the President to the Emperor. The 
close proximity of the ships-of-war to the capital, and 
Captain Perry's peremptory demand, were not at all 
to the liking of the Japanese; but they were greatly 
impressed with his apparent dignity and power, and at 
last consented to receive and consider the letter. Fear- 
ing treachery. Captain Perry moved his ships up so 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 291 

that their guns would command the buildhig prepared 
for his reception, and on the 14th of July went ashore 
with an escort of four hundred officers and men, who 
found themselves, on landing, surrounded by about six 
thousand Japanese soldiers under arms. 

Three months were given to the Japanese officials to 
reply to the letter, and Captain Perry sailed with his 
squadron for the coast of China. He returned after 
an interval of three months, and anchored his ships 
beyond Uraga, where the previous conference had been 
held, and nearer the capital, despite the fact that a 
place twenty miles below had been appointed for the 
second meeting. The Japanese demurred at this, be- 
ing so exclusive that they did not wish their capital nor 
their country even to be seen by foreigners. Instead 
of respecting these wishes, Captain Perry approached 
still nearer, until he was only eight miles from Tokio. 
This high-handed policy had the desired effect. Five 
special Japanese commissioners met Captain Perry, and 
in a building within range of the ships' guns, negotia- 
tions were carried on. They resulted, on March 31st, 
in the signing of a treaty by the Japanese, in which 
they promised to open two of their ports to American 
vessels seeking supplies; to give aid to seamen of the 
United States wrecked upon their shores; to allow 
American citizens temporarily residing in their ports 
to enter, within prescribed limits, the surrounding coun- 
try; to permit consuls of the United States to reside 
in one of the open ports; and, in general, to show a 
peaceful and friendly spirit toward our government 
and citizens. This treaty is important, because it 
opened the door for the peoples of the world to a 
country which has since proved to be possessed of vast 
wealth and resources. Captain Perry received high 
praise for his firmness and diplomacy in the conduct of 
the difficult negotiations. 



292 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

One vessel of Captain Perry's fleet, the " Plymouth," 
had remained at Shanghai when the squadron returned 
to Japanese waters, and she played a very active though 
brief part in the troubles which then existed in China. 
Imperial and revolutionary troops were fighting for 
supremacy, and the former showed a hostile disposition 
to the American and English residents of Shanghai. 
An American pilot was captured by an Imperial man- 
of-war, but was retaken in a most spirited manner from 
the Chinese by Lieutenant Guest, and a boat's crew 
from the " Plymouth." The Chinese manifestations 
of hostility toward foreign residents continued, and on 
the 4th of April, 1854, about ninety men from the 
" Plymouth " and American merchant-ships, under the 
leadership of Commander Kelly, went ashore, and in 
conjunction with one hundred and fifty men from a 
British man-of-war, began an attack up the Imperial 
camp. The Americans had two field-pieces and a 
twelve-pound boat-howitzer, which, together with the 
muskets, were used so effectively that, after ten min- 
utes of sharp fighting, the Chinese fled in great dis- 
order, leaving a number of dead and wounded upon 
the field. The American loss was two killed and four 
wounded. 

Piracy was rampant in the China seas during this 
period, and so bold and ferocious were the Chinese 
desperadoes that their junks were a great terror to 
merchant vessels, and seriously interfered with com- 
merce. The " Powhatan," another of Captain Perry's 
squadron, and the English sloop " Rattler," joined 
forces against a fleet of piratical junks off Khulan, in. 
1855, and completely destroyed them, killing many 
of the pirates in the attack and taking a large number 
of prisoners. In Happy Valley, Hong-Kong, a monu- 
ment was erected to commemorate the eight English 
and American sailors who were killed in the conflict. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 293 

One impetuous act by an American commander dur- 
ing the period of troubles along the Chinese coast gave 
world-wide currency to a phrase of Anglo-Saxon amity, 
and did much to establish the friendship between the 
United States and Great Britain which has so long 
continued. In 1859 an English expedition was trying 
to remove some obstructions in the Peiho River when 
they were suddenly fired upon from Chinese forts on 
the bank. A desperate conflict followed in which sev- 
eral hundred of the English were killed. Captain Tat- 
nall commanded the chartered steamer " Toey-Wan," 
which was in the harbor. He forgot his neutrality as 
he watched the scene. With the exclamation, " Blood 
is thicker than water! " he jumped into his launch and 
steamed for the British flagship. The boat was struck 
with a ball, and before its trip was ended sunk, the 
coxswain being killed and Lieutenant Trenchart 
severely wounded. The others who had manned her 
were rescued, and they helped the English at the guns. 
Captain Tatnall afterward used the " Toey-Wan " to 
tow up and bring into action the British reserves. His 
action was a clear violation of the treaty and the neu- 
trality law. He received but slight punishment, how- 
ever, and gained great popularity in great Britain. 

So in rather inconspicuous and not particularly ex- 
hilarating service the men of the navy passed fourteen 
years. We shall see that when the great guns roared 
again in wrath they were directed against other Amer- 
icans in the most bloody civil war of all history. 



CHAPTER XVII 

The Civil War — Secretary Dix's Stirring Dispatch — The South 
Destitute of Warships — The Blockade — Burning the Norfolk 
Navy -Yard — The Escape of the "Sumter" — The Hatteras 
Forts. 

When the long-smouldering hostility between the 
Northern and Southern States of the Union blazed out 
Into civil war the United States Government had at its 
disposal sixty-nine men-of-war, of which twenty-seven 
were laid up, or sailors would say " out of commission." 
Many of those in active service were on missions to 
the East Indies, Africa, and other distant quarters of 
the globe. Though immediately upon the inaugura- 
tion of President Lincoln, March 4, 1861, all were 
ordered home, none arrived until the middle of June, 
and some not until the following winter. Many v/ere 
old-fashioned sailing frigates — almost useless even in 
that early day of steam. But how swiftly the navy 
was rehabilitated, how vital its expansion was consid- 
ered to the maintenance of national unity, may be 
judged from the fact that at the end of Lincoln's first 
term the navy numbered six hundred and seventy-one 
vessels — many iron-plated, for the duel between the 
" Monitor " and the " Merrimac " had taught the 
world that lesson. All this had been accomplished 
by a people grappling in deadly strife with an enemy 
in their very dwellings. History records no more won- 
derful story of energy and invention. 

But at the outbreak of the war the States of the 
South were even more destitute of warships. In fact, 
they had not one. While many officers of the United 
States navy felt it their duty to resign their national 

294 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 295 

commissions and serve their native States, not one 
United States war-vessel was surrendered to the Con- 
federacy. Some revenue cutters were, indeed, thus lost 
to the service. A suspicion that Captain Breshwood, 
commander of the cutter " McClelland," was about to 
take such action led to the historic dispatch from John 
A. Dix, Secretary of the Treasury: "Tell Lieutenant 
Caldwell to arrest Captain Breshwood, assume com- 
mand of the cutter, and obey my orders through you. 
If Captain Breshwood after arrest attempts to inter- 
fere with the command of the cutter, tell Lieutenant 
Caldwell to consider him a mutineer and treat him 
accordingly. // any man attempts to haul down the 
American flag shoot him on the spot." 

Not only was the South destitute of ships, it was 
almost without the means of building them. It was 
an agricultural and exporting country, but the wealth 
of cotton, resin, and turpentine it shipped abroad was 
carried in vessels built in New England shipyards. 
About the only craft built in the South were the river 
steamers, and we shall presently see how cleverly these 
flimsy fabrics were converted into formidable ironclads. 
Nor could many vessels be obtained abroad. The rules 
of neutrality forbade it. The alert and tactful Con- 
federate agent in London, Mr. Bulloch, did indeed 
get three ships to sea — the *' Florida," " Shenandoah," 
and " Alabama." But thereafter British shipyards 
were closed against Confederate agents, and years later 
Great Britain paid a penalty of fifteen million dollars 
for its temerity in permitting the " Alabama " to 
escape. 

This great disparity of force afloat had much to do 
with the outcome of the war. The blockade of 
Southern ports, early established, was tight as an iron 
band. The South could neither export its cotton, nor 
import arms, munitions of war, medicines, cloth, and 



296 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

other articles not manufactured in the Confederacy. 
Quinine, for example, of almost universal use in 
Southern climates, was rigidly excluded, and the small 
quantities that dribbled through the blockade brought 
prodigious prices. In addition to the blockade, the 
navy was of inestimable advantage in expediting the 
movement of troops. The South is prolific of harbors 
and navigable streams. The United States navy bat- 
tered down the forts that guarded the harbors and en- 
abled troops to land at a score of places and to pro- 
ceed by water to the heart of the enemy's country. 
It has been the habit to underestimate the navy's work 
in contemplating the more colossal operations of the 
armies. But the two branches of the service were in- 
deed united, and there was glory enough for both. 

The South well understood at the very outset the 
heavy handicap imposed by lack of sea-power. The 
first effort to secure fighting ships was an attempt to 
seize the historic frigate " Constitution," which was 
at anchor near Annapolis. This was balked by the 
troops under command of General Benjamin F. Butler, 
who were encamped near by. But the second effort 
to acquire some of the naval resources of the Federal 
Government was more successful. The United States 
navy-yard at Norfolk was one of the most valuable of 
all the governmental possessions. In the great yard 
was government property amounting to more than 
twenty millions of dollars. Machine-shops, foundries, 
dwellings for officers, and a massive granite dry-dock 
made it one of the most complete navy-yards in the 
world. An enormous quantity of cannon, cannon-balls, 
powder, and small-arms packed the huge storehouses. 
In the magnificent harbor were lying some of the most 
formidable vessels of the United States navy, includ- 
ing the steam frigate " Merrimac," of which we shall 
hear much hereafter. Small wonder was it, that the 




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FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 297 

people of Virginia, about to secede from the Union, 
looked with covetous eyes upon this vast stock of 
munitions of war lying apparently within their grasp. 

The first thing to be done was to entrap the ships 
so that they should be unable to get out of the harbor. 
Accordingly, on the i6th of April, three large stone- 
vessels were sunk directly in the channel, apparently 
barring the exit of the frigates most effectually. In- 
deed, so confident of success were the plotters, that 
in a dispatch to Richmond, announcing the successful 
sinking of the stone-ships, they said: "Thus have we 
secured for Virginia three of the best ships of the 
navy." But later events showed, that, in boasting so 
proudly, the Virginians were committing the old error 
of counting chickens before they were hatched. 

At seven o'clock on the night of April 21, the United 
States steamer " Pawnee," which had been lying under 
the guns of Fortress Monroe, hoisted anchor, and 
headed up the bay, on an errand of destruction. It 
was too late to save the navy-yard with its precious 
stores. The only thing to be done was to burn, break, 
and destroy everything that might be of service to an 
enemy. The decks of the " Pawnee " were black with 
men, — soldiers to guard the gates, and complete the 
work of destruction within the yard; blue-jacketed tars 
to do what might be done to drag the entrapped vessels 
from the snare set them by the Virginians. It was a 
bright moonlight night. The massive hull of the shlp- 
of-war, black in the cold, white rays of the moon, 
passed rapidly up the Elizabeth River. The sunken 
wrecks were reached, and successfully avoided; and 
about nine o'clock the " Pawnee " steamed Into 
the anchorage of the navy-yard, to be greeted 
with cheers from the tars of the " Cumber- 
land " and " Pennsylvania," who expected her arrival. 
The townspeople seeing the war-vessel, with ports 



298 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

thrown open, and black muzzles of the guns protrud- 
ing, took to their houses, fearing she would open fire 
on the town. Quickly the " Pawnee " steamed to her 
moorings. The marines were hurriedly disembarked, 
and hastened to guard the entrances to the navy-yard. 
Howitzers were planted so as to rake every street lead- 
ing to the yard. Thus secure against attack, the work 
of the night began. Nearly two thousand willing 
hands were set hard at work, cannon were dismounted 
and spiked, rifles and muskets dashed to pieces; great 
quantities of combustibles were piled up in the mam- 
moth buildings, ready to be fired at a given signal. In 
the meantime, the blue-jackets were not idle. It was 
quickly decided, that, of all the magnificent vessels an- 
chored in the harbor, the " Cumberland " was the only 
one that could be towed past the obstructions in the 
river. All hands were set to work removing every- 
thing of value from the doomed vessels to the " Cum- 
berland." Gunpowder and combustibles were then 
arranged so as to completely destroy the vessels when 
ignited. When the moon went down at twelve o'clock, 
the preparations were complete. All the men were 
then taken on board the " Cumberland " and " Paw- 
nee," save a few who were left to fire the trains. As 
the two vessels started from the moorings, the barracks 
were fired, the lurid light casting a fearful gleam upon 
the crowded yards and shrouds of the towering frigate. 
A little way out in the stream a rocket was sent up 
from the " Pawnee." This was the signal for the 
firing of the trains. The scene that followed is thus 
described by an eye-witness : 



The rocket sped high in air, paused a second, and burst in showers 
of many colored lights; and, as it did so, the well-set trains at the 
ship-houses, and on the decks of the fated vessels left behind, went 
off as if lit simultaneously by the rocket. One of the ship-houses 
contained the old " New York," a ship thirty years on the stocks, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 299 

and yet unfinished ; the other was vacant. But both houses, and the 
old " New York/' burned like tinder. The vessels fired were the 
" Pennsylvania," the " Merrimac," the " Germantown," the 
" Plymouth," the " Raritan," the " Columbia," and the " Dolphin." 
The old " Delaware " and " Columbus," worn-out and disabled 
seventy-fours, were scuttled, and sunk at the upper docks on 
Friday. 

I need not try to picture the scene of the grand conflagration that 
now burst like the day of judgment on the startled citizens of Nor- 
folk, Portsmouth, and all the surrounding country. Any one who 
has seen a ship burn, and knows how like a fiery serpent the flame 
leaps from pitchy deck to smoking shrouds, and writhes to their 
very top around the masts that stand like martyrs doomed, can 
form some idea of the wonderful display that followed. It was 
not thirty minutes from the time the trains were fired, till the 
conflagration roared like a hurricane, and the flames from land and 
water swayed and met and mingled together, and darted high, and 
fell, and leaped up again, and by their very motion showed their 
sympathy with the crackling, crashing war of destruction beneath. 

But in all this magnificent scene the old ship " Pennsylvania " was 
the centre-piece. She was a very giant in death, as she had been 
in life. She was a sea of flame; and when the iron had entered her 
soul, and her bowels were consuming, then did she spout forth 
from every porthole of every deck torrents and cataracts of fire, 
that to the mind of Milton would have represented her a frigate 
of hell pouring out unending broadsides of infernal fire. Several 
of her guns were left loaded, but not shotted ; and as the fire 
reached them they sent out on the startled morning air minute-guns 
of fearful peal, that added greatly to the alarm that the light of 
the fire had spread through the country round about. The " Penn- 
sylvania " burned like a volcano for five hours and a half before her 
mainmast fell. I stood watching the proud but perishing old 
leviathan as this emblem of her majesty was about to come down. 
At precisely half-past nine o'clock the tall tree that stood in her 
centre tottered and fell, and crushed deep into her burning sides. 



During this scene the people of the little town, and 
the Virginia militiamen who had been summoned to 
take possession of the navy-yard, were no idle spec- 
tators. Hardly had the " Pawnee " steamed out into 
the stream, when the great gates were battered down, 
and crowds of men rushed in, eager to save whatever 
arms were uninjured. Throughout the fire they worked 
like beavers, and succeeded in saving a large quantity 



300 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of munitions of war to be used by the Confederacy. 
The ships that had been fired all burned to the water's 
edge. One was raised, and reappeared as the formida- 
ble " Merrimac," called by the Confederates the " Vir- 
ginia," that at one time threatened the destruction of 
the whole Union navy. 

A great amount of valuable property was saved for 
the Virginians by the coolness of a young boy, the son 
of one of the citizens of the town. This lad was within 
the gates of the navy-yard when the troops from the 
ships rushed in, and closed and barricaded them against 
the townspeople. He was frightened, and hid himself 
behind a quantity of boards and rubbish, and lay there 
a silent and immensely frightened spectator of the work 
of destruction. An officer passed near him directing 
the movements of two sailors, who were laying a train 
of gunpowder to an immense pile of explosives and 
combustibles in the huge granite dry-dock. The train 
passed over a broad board; and the boy, hardly know- 
ing what he did, drew away this board, leaving a gap 
of eight inches in the train. When all the trains were 
fired, this was of course stopped at the gap; the dry- 
dock was saved, and still remains in the Norfolk navy- 
yard. 

The first regularly commissioned Confederate man- 
of-war to take the sea was the " Sumter," an old 
merchant steamer, remodelled and armed with five guns. 
Only five hundred tons register, smaller than the aver- 
age millionaire's pleasure yacht to-day, this ship ranged 
the seas for a year, capturing eighteen vessels, only to 
be blockaded at Gibraltar and there finally sold and 
abandoned. 

It was on the ist of June, 1861, that the " Sumter " 
cast loose from the levee at New Orleans, and started 
down the Mississippi on her way to the open sea. The 
great levee of the Crescent City was crowded with 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 301 

people that day. Now and again the roll of the drum, 
or the stirring notes of " Dixie," would be heard, as 
some volunteer company marched down to the river to 
witness the departure of the entire Confederate navy. 
Slowly the vessel dropped down the river, and, round- 
ing the English turn, boomed out with her great gun 
a parting salute to the city she was never more to see. 
Ten miles from the mouth of the river she stopped; 
for anchored off the bar below lay the powerful United 
States steamer, " Brooklyn," with three other men-of- 
war. 

But the blockaders were eluded after several days' 
delay, and the ship was soon lost to its foes. 

When four days out, the " Sumter " captured her 
first prize. She was a fine ship, the " Golden Rocket " 
of Maine, six hundred and ninety tons. With the 
United States flag fluttering at the peak, she came sail- 
ing proudly towards her unsuspected enemy, from 
whose peak the red flag of England was displayed as 
a snare. When the two vessels came within a mile 
of each other, the wondering crew of the merchantman 
saw the English flag come tumbling down, while a 
ball of bunting rose quickly to the peak of the mys- 
terious stranger, and, catching the breeze, floated out, 
showing a strange flag, — the Stars and Bars of the 
Confederacy. At the same minute a puff of smoke 
from the " Long Tom " amidships was followed by a 
solid shot ricochetting along the water before the dis- 
mayed merchantman, and conveying a forcible, but not 
at all polite, invitation to stop. The situation dawned 
on the astonished skipper of the ship, — he was in the 
hands of "the Rebels"; and with a sigh he brought 
his vessel up into the wind, and awaited the outcome 
of the adventure. And bad enough the outcome was 
for him; for Captain Semmes, unwilling to spare a 
crew to man the prize, determined to set her on fire. 



302 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

It was about sunset when the first boat put off from 
the " Sumter " to visit the captured ship. The two 
vessels were lying a hundred yards apart, rising and 
falling in unison on the slow-rolling swells of the tropic 
seas. The day was bright and warm, and in the west 
the sun was slowly sinking to the meeting line of sky 
and ocean. All was quiet and peaceful, as only a 
summer afternoon in Southern seas can be. Yet in the 
midst of all that peace and quiet, a scene in the great 
drama of war was being enacted. Nature was peace- 
ful, man violent. 

For a time nothing was heard save the measured 
thump of the oars in the rowlocks, as the boats plied 
to and fro between the two ships, transporting the cap- 
tured crew of the " Sumter." Finally the last trip 
was made, and the boat hoisted to the davits. Then 
all eyes were turned toward the " Golden Rocket." 
She lay almost motionless, a dark mass on the black 
ocean. The sun had long since sunk beneath the hori- 
zon ; and the darkness of the night was only relieved 
by the brilliancy of the stars, which in those latitudes 
shine with wondrous brightness. Soon the watches on 
the " Sumter " caught a hasty breath. A faint gleam 
was seen about the companionway of the " Rocket." 
Another instant, and with a roar and crackle, a great 
mass of flame shot up from the hatch, as from the 
crater of a volcano. Instantly the well-tarred rigging 
caught, and the flame ran up the shrouds as a ladder 
of fire, and the whole ship was a towering mass of 
flame. The little band of men on the " Sumter " 
looked on the terrific scene with bated breath. Though 
they fully believed in the justice of their cause, they 
could not look on the destruction they had wrought 
without feelings of sadness. It was their first act of 
war. One of the oflicers of the "Sumter" writes: 
" Few, few on board can forget the spectacle, — a ship 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 303 

set fire to at sea. It would seem that man was almost 
warring with his Maker. Her helpless condition, the 
red flames licking the rigging as they climbed aloft, 
the sparks and pieces of burning rope taken off by the 
wind, and flying miles to leeward, the ghastly glare 
thrown upon the dark sea as far as the eye could reach, 
and then the deathlike stillness of the scene, — all these 
combined to place the " Golden Rocket " on the tablet 
of our memories forever." But it was not long before 
the crew of the " Sumter " could fire a vessel, and sail 
away indifferently, with hardly a glance at their terrible 
handiwork. 

When the " Sumter " was finally abandoned her cap- 
tain, Rafael Semmes, and the crew went to England 
to take over a mysterious craft just built and called 
" The 290." Of this ship we shall hear much in 
time. 

The early services of the men of the United States 
navy in the Civil War were monotonous in the ex- 
treme. The blockade along the coast was supple- 
mented by a patrol of the Potomac from Washington 
to its mouth, to prevent smuggling and check as far 
as possible the erection of hostile batteries on the Vir- 
ginia shore. Not until the last of August, 1861, did 
a real naval expedition plough the blue Atlantic, 

From Cape Henry, at the mouth of the James River, 
the coast of Virginia and North Carolina sweeps 
grandly out to the eastward, like a mammoth bow, with 
its lower end at Beaufort, two hundred miles south. 
Along this coast-line the great surges of mighty ocean, 
rolling with unbroken course from the far-off shore of 
Europe, trip and fall with unceasing roar upon an 
almost uninterrupted beach of snowy sand, a hundred 
and more miles long. Near the southern end of this 
expanse of sand stands a lighthouse, towering solitary 
above the surrounding plain of sea and sand. No 



304 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

inviting beacon giving notice to the weary mariner of 
safe haven is this steady light that pierces the darl<:ness 
night after night. It tells of treacherous shoals and 
roaring breakers; of the loss of many a good ship, 
whose ribs, half buried in the drifting sand, lie rotting 
in the salt air; of skies ever treacherous, and waters 
ever turbulent. It is the light of Hatteras. 

Some twenty miles below Cape Hatteras light occurs 
the first great opening in the stretch of sand that extends 
south from Cape Henry. Once he has passed through 
this opening, the mariner finds himself in the most 
peaceful waters. The waves of the Atlantic spend 
themselves on the sandy fringe outside, while within 
are the quiet waters of Pamlico and Albemarle sounds, 
dotted with fertile islands, and bordering a coast rich 
in harbors. The wary blockade-runner, eluding the 
watchfulness of the United States blockaders cruising 
outside, had but to pass the portals of Hatteras Inlet, 
to unload at his leisure his precious cargo, and load 
up with the cotton which grew in great abundance on 
the islands and fertile shores of the sound. 

Recognizing the importance of this harbor, the Con- 
federates had early in the war fortified the point north 
of Hatteras Inlet. Shortly after the fall of Fort 
Sumter, a Yankee skipper, Daniel Campbell, in- 
cautiously running his schooner the " Lydia Francis " 
too near the stormy cape, was wrecked, and sought 
shelter among the people at the inlet. When, some 
days after, he proposed to leave, he was astounded 
to find that he had been delivered from the sea only 
to fall a prey to the fortunes of war. He was kept 
a prisoner for three months; and on his release, going 
directly to Fortress Monroe, he proved that he had 
kept his eyes open to some purpose. He reported to 
flag-officer Stringham that the Confederates had two 
batteries, — one of ten, the other of five guns, — known 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 305 

as Fort Hatteras and Fort Clark. With these two 
forts the Confederates claimed that they could control 
the entrance to Albemarle Sound. 

Immediately upon receipt of this intelligence prepara- 
tions were made for a joint military and naval expedi- 
tion against the forts. Two transports carried eight 
hundred soldiers from General Butler's command. 
Five men-of-war constituted the naval force. As it 
turned out, the success of the expedition depended 
upon the navy, for a heavy tempest made the landing 
of troops in sufficient numbers to storm the forts im- 
possible. But two days' bombardment by the fleet 
silenced the forts and drove their defenders to the 
bomb-proofs and then to surrender. But it was not 
a sanguinary battle. Neither side was composed of 
veterans. The Confederate gun-practice was poor, 
and the Confederate loss was so trivial that a year 
later not one of the men engaged wouki have thought 
of surrender. As for the assailants, when Commodore 
Barron went off to the fleet to formally surrender the 
forts and the eight hundred men of his command, he 
turned to flag-officer Stringham, and asked if the loss 
of life on the ships had been very large. " Not a 
man has been injured," was the response. " Wonder- 
ful ! " exclaimed the questioner. " No one could have 
imagined that this position could have been captured 
without sacrificing thousands of men." But so it was. 
Without the loss of a man, had fallen a most important 
post, together with cannon, provisions, and nearly 
seven hundred men. 

That long, surf-washed, sandy coast of North Caro- 
lina made plenty of trouble for the United States mili- 
tary and naval authorities throughout the war. Well 
supplied with harbors, or with narrow inlets into such 
shallow and peaceful waters as Albemarle and Pam- 
lico sounds, it was equally useful as an invitation to 



3o6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

blockade-runners and shelters for small privateers that 
could dash out into the Atlantic, capture a few coast- 
ers, and vanish in the maze of bays and rivers shel- 
tered by the sandbars of Hatteras. It was therefore 
early determined to reduce all this region to subjection 
to Federal authority. The work demanded the serv- 
ices of both army and navy; the campaigns were de- 
cidedly amphibious — by sea, by land, and in the swamps 
composed of both. There was little warlike adventure 
in any of these operations. The chief forces to con- 
tend with were those of nature, as strikingly shown in 
the expedition of January, 1862, against Roanoke 
Island. This point controlled the entrance to Pam- 
lico Sound, from which many navigable rivers and bays 
stretch far into the interior. To attack it the expedi- 
tion had to pass through Hatteras Inlet, past the forts, 
the capture of which has just been described. 

Early in January, 1862, a joint military and naval 
expedition was fitted out for operation against the Con- 
federate works and steamers in these inland waters. 
The flotilla was one of those heterogeneous collections 
of remodelled excursion-steamers, tugs, ferry-boats, and 
even canal-boats, which at that time was dignified with 
the title of " the fleet." In fitting out this expedition 
two very conflicting requirements were followed. In 
the most favorable circumstances, the channel at Hat- 
teras Inlet is seldom over seven and a half feet: con- 
sequently the vessels must be of light draught. But 
the Confederate steamers in the sounds carried heavy 
rifled cannon, and the armament of the forts on Roa- 
noke Island was of the heaviest: therefore, the vessels 
must carry heavy guns to be able to cope with the 
enemy. This attempt to put a heavy armament on 
the gun-deck made the vessels roll so heavily as to be 
almost unseaworthy. 

In addition to the armed vessels belonging to the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 307 

navy, a number of transports accompanied the expedi- 
tion, bearing the army corps under the command of 
General Burnside; and the whole number of craft 
finally assembled for the subjugation of the North 
Carolina sounds was one hundred and twenty. This 
heterogeneous assemblage of vessels was sent on a voy- 
age in the dead of winter, down a dangerous coast, 
to one of the stormiest points known to the mariner. 
Hatteras was true to its reputation; and, when the 
squadron reached the inlet, a furious northeaster was 
blowing, sending the gray clouds scudding across the 
sky, and making the heavy rollers break on the beach 
and the bar in a way that foretold certain destruction, 
should any hardy pilot attempt to run his ship into 
the narrow and crooked inlet. Outside there was no 
safe anchorage, and the situation of the entire squadron 
was most precarious. 

For two days this gale continued. The outlook for 
the fleet seemed hopeless. The inner bar of the harbor 
was absolutely impassable. Between the outer bar and 
the inner were packed seventy vessels. The space, 
though called a harbor, was almost unsheltered. 
Crowded with vessels as it was, it made an anchorage 
only less dangerous than that outside. Although the 
vessels were anchored, bow and stern, the violence of 
the sea was such that they frequently crashed into 
each other, breaking bulwarks, spars, and wheel-houses, 
and tearing away standing-rigging. A schooner break- 
ing from its anchorage went tossing and twirling 
through the fleet, crashing into vessel after vessel, until 
finally, getting foul of a small steamer, dragged it 
from its moorings; and the two began a waltz in the 
crowded harbor, to the great detriment of the sur- 
rounding craft. At last the two runaways went 
aground on a shoal, and pounded away there until 
every seam was open, and the holds filled with water. 



3o8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

A strange mishap was that which befell the gunboat 
" Zouave." She was riding safely at anchor, remote 
from other ships, taking the seas nobly, and apparently 
in no possible danger. Her crew occupied themselves 
in going to the assistance of those in the distressed 
vessels, feeling that their own was perfectly safe. But 
during the night, the tide being out, the vessel was 
driven against one of the flukes of her own anchor; 
and as each wave lifted her up and dropped her heavily 
on the sharp iron, a hole was stove in her bottom, 
sinking her so quickly that the crew took to the boats, 
saving nothing. 

But the most serious disaster was the total wreck 
of the " City of New York," a large transport, with 
a cargo of ordnance stores valued at two hundred thou- 
sand dollars. Unable to enter the Inlet, she tried to 
ride out the gale outside. The tremendous sea, and 
the wind blowing furiously on shore, caused her to 
drag her anchors; and those on board saw certain death 
staring them in the face, as hour by hour the ship 
drifted nearer and nearer to the tumbling mass of 
mighty breakers, that with an unceasing roar, and white 
foam gleaming like the teeth of an enraged lion, broke 
heavily on the sand. She struck on Monday afternoon, 
and soon swung around, broadside to the sea, so as 
to be helpless and at the mercy of the breakers. Every 
wave broke over her decks. The conditions of her 
crew was frightful. In the dead of winter, the wind 
keen as a razor, and the waves of icy coldness, the 
body soon became benumbed; and It was with the 
greatest effort that the men could cling to the rigging. 
So great was the fury of the wind and waves, that 
no assistance could be given her. For a boat to venture 
into that seething caldron of breakers would have been 
throwing away lives. So the crew of the doomed ship 
were left to save themselves as best they might. The 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 309 

night passed away, and Tuesday morning saw the gale 
still blowing with unabated force. Hoping to lessen 
the strain on the hull, they cut away the foremast. In 
falling, it tore away the pipes, and the vessel became 
a perfect wreck. Numbed with cold, and faint for 
lack of food, the crew lashed themselves to the bul- 
warks and rigging; and so, drenched by the icy spray, 
and chilled through by the wind, they spent another 
fearful night. The next day the fury of the storm 
seemed to have somewhat abated. The sea was still 
running high, and breaking over the almost unrecog- 
nizable hulk stranded on the beach. With the aid 
of a glass, sailors on the other ships could see the in- 
animate forms of the crew lashed to the rigging. It 
was determined to make a vigorous attempt to save 
them. The first boat sent out on the errand of mercy 
was watched eagerly from all the vessels. Now it 
would be seen raised high on the top of some tremen- 
dous wave, then, plunging into the trough, it would be 
lost from the view of the anxious watchers. All went 
well until the boat reached the outermost line of the 
breakers, when suddenly a towering wave, rushing re- 
sistlessly along, broke directly over the stern, swamp- 
ing the boat, and drowning seven of the crew. Again 
the last hope seemed lost to the exhausted men on the 
wreck. But later in the day, the sea having gone 
down somewhat, a steam-tug succeeded in reaching the 
wreck and rescuing the crew. The second engineer 
was the last man to leave the ship. He remained 
lashed to the mast until all were taken on the tug. 
Then, climbing to the top-mast, he cut down the flag 
that had waved during those two wild days and nights, 
and bore it safely away. 

Two weeks were consumed in refitting and preparing 
for the attack upon the three formidable forts the 
Confederates were known to have on Roanoke Island. 



3IO STORY OF OUR NAVY 

When the expedition moved nearly one hundred vessels 
were in the three columns that moved slowly toward 
the enemy's position. It was five in the afternoon of 
a short February day that the fleet came in sight of 
the forts. Signals were made for the squadron to 
form in a circle about the flagship. The early dark- 
ness of winter had fallen upon the scene. The waters 
of the sound were smooth as a mill-pond. From the 
white cottages on the shore gleamed lights, and bril- 
liant signal-lanterns hung in the rigging of the ships. 
Through the fleet pulled swift gigs bearing the com- 
manders of the different vessels. 

The morning dawned dark and rainy. At first it 
was thought that the fog and mist would prevent the 
bombardment, but all doubt was put at an end by the 
signal, " Prepare for action," from the flagship. 

The fleet got under way, and stood up the channel 
almost to the point where the obstructions were planted. 
Beyond these were the gunboats of the enemy. The 
cannonade was begun without loss of time. A por- 
tion of the fleet began a vigorous fire upon the Con- 
federate gunboats, while the others attacked the forts. 
The gunboats were soon driven away, and then the 
forts received the entire fire. The water was calm, 
and the aim of the gunners was admirable. The forts 
could hardly respond to the fire, since the great shells, 
plunging by hundreds into the trenches, drove the men 
from their guns into the bomb-proof casemates. The 
ofl[icers of the ships could watch with their glasses the 
effect of every shell, and by their directions the aim 
of the gunners was made nearly perfect. 

While the bombarding was going on. General Burn- 
side set about landing his troops near the southern end 
of the island. The first boat was fired upon by soldiers 
concealed in the woods. The " Delaware " instantly 
pitched a few shells into the woods from which the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 311 

firing proceeded, and in a few minutes the enemy could 
be seen running out like rats from a burning granary. 
The landing then went on unimpeded. The boats were 
unable to get up to the bank, owing to shoal water; 
and the soldiers were obliged to wade ashore in the 
icy water, waist-deep, and sinking a foot more in the 
soft mud of the bottom. 

The bombardment was continued for some hours 
after nightfall. A night bombardment is a stirring 
scene. The passionate and spiteful glare of the can- 
non-flashes; the unceasing roar of the explosions; the 
demoniac shriek of the shells in the air, followed by 
their explosion with a lightning flash, and crash like 
thunder; the volumes of gray smoke rising upon the 
dark air, — make up a wonderful and memorable sight. 

In the morning the bombardment was recommenced, 
and the work of landing troops went on. Eight gun- 
boats were sent to tear away the obstructions in the 
channel; and there beneath the guns of the enemy's 
fleet, and the frowning cannon of the forts, the sailors 
worked with axe and ketch until the barricade was 
broken, and the eight ships passed to the sound above 
the forts. In the meantime, the troops on the island 
began to march against the forts. There were few 
paths, and they groped their way through woods and 
undergrowth, wading through morasses, and tearing 
their way through tangled thickets to get at the enemy's 
front. The advance was slow, but steady, until the 
open field before the forts was reached; then a charge 
was ordered, led by the famous Hawkins Zouaves, who 
rushed madly upon the fort, shouting their war cry 
of Zou, zou, zoii! Like a resistless flood the attackers 
poured over the earthworks, and the frightened de- 
fenders fled. Before five o'clock the entire island was 
in the hands of the troops, and the fleet had passed 
the barricade. During the bombardment the vessels 



312 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

sustained severe injuries. An act of heroism which 
made the hero celebrated was that of John Davis, gun- 
ner's mate on board the " Valley City." A shell en- 
tered the magazine of that ship, and exploded, setting 
the wood-work on fire. An open barrel of gunpowder 
stood in the midst of the flames, with sparks dropping 
about it. At any moment an explosion might occur 
which would shatter the vessel to fragments. Men 
shrank back, expecting every moment to be their last. 
With wonderful presence of mind Davis threw him- 
self across the open end of the barrel, and with his 
body covered the dangerous explosive until the fire was 
put out. 

As soon as the Stars and Stripes were hoisted on 
the flagstaffs of the forts, the Confederate fleet, which 
had been maintaining a desultory fire, fled up the sound, 
after setting fire to one schooner which had become 
hopelessly crippled in the battle. She blazed away 
far on into the night, and finally, when the flames 
reached her magazine, blew up with a tremendous re- 
port, seeming like a final involuntary salute paid by 
the defeated enemy to the prowess of the Union arms. 
When quiet finally settled down upon the scene, and 
General Burnside and Commander Goldsborough 
counted up their gains, they found that six forts, twenty- 
five hundred prisoners, and forty-two great guns had 
fallen into the hands of the victors. The Union loss 
was forty killed and two hundred wounded. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

A Romance of Commerce and War— The Blockade Runners— What 
the Trade Paid— How It Was Checked — Nassau's Days of 
Prosperity. 

It is an ill wind, the proverb has it, that blows nobody 
good. The maxim is peculiarly applicable to the 
blockade which gradually starved the South into help- 
lessness. But on the Southern plantations were piled 
hundreds of thousands of bales of cotton worth its 
weight in gold in Manchester and Birmingham, where 
the great mills were shutting down, and their operatives 
starving, for lack of America's greatest staple. And 
in England were stores of medicines, woolen goods, 
salt, and munitions of war, all salable for prodigious 
prices if once landed on Southern soil. Out of this 
situation sprung the business of running the blockade 
— an adventurous pursuit which throve mightily not- 
withstanding its perils. 

From the very first the Federal Government con- 
centrated its attention upon the blockade. It was no 
mere " paper blockade," made up of edicts and procla- 
mations without ships to enforce it. By the end of 
1 86 1 there was not a port, inlet, or river's mouth 
south of the Potomac not guarded by two or three 
armed vessels of the United States. Nor were they 
a menace only — they did things. At the end of 1863 the 
Secretary of the Navy reported, one thousand and forty- 
five vessels captured, classified as follows: schooners, 
five hundred and forty-seven; steamers, one hundred 
and seventy-nine; sloops, one hundred and seventeen; 
brigs, thirty; barks, twenty-six; ships, fifteen; yachts 
and boats, one hundred and seventeen. Nevertheless, 

313 



314 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the trade prospered; swift steamers were built especially 
for it, fortunes were made by the owners of the 
ships, and even by their sailors. One thousand 
dollars for the ordinary sailor, and eight or nine thou- 
sand for a captain, was no unusual return for one brief 
voyage. 

When the business was systematized by the early 
part of '62 the method was to send great cargoes of 
merchandise from J^ngland to Nassau or Matamoras — 
neutral ports, so that thus far the goods were exempt 
from capture. Thence they were shipped through the 
lines into the Confederacy, in danger of confiscation 
every moment they were afloat. Matamoras was well 
suited for a blockade-runners' rendezvous. It is on 
the Mexican side of the Rio Grande River, about forty 
miles above its mouth. Goods once landed could be 
shipped in barges and lighters across the river in abso- 
lute safety, since heavy batteries prevented the cruisers 
of the gulf-squadron from entering the river. As a 
result of this trade, Matamoras became a thriving place. 
Hundreds of vessels lay in its harbor, where now it 
is unusual to see five at a time. For four years its 
streets were crowded with heavy freight vans, while 
stores and hotels reaped a rich harvest from the sailors 
of the vessels engaged in the contraband traflic. Now 
it is as quiet and sleepy a little town as can be found 
in all the drowsy land of Mexico. 

But Nassau was the prime favorite of the blockade- 
runners. Under protection of the British flag, five 
hundred miles from Charleston, and but little further 
from Wilmington, with a harbor well suited for 
merchantmen, but surrounding waters too shallow for 
heavy men-of-war, it soon became the chief centre of 
the illicit trade. 

Early in the war the Confederates established a 
consulate in the little town, and the Stars and Stripes 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 315 

and the Stars and Bars waved within a few rods of 
each other. Then great shipping-houses of Liverpool 
sent over agents, and estabhshed branch houses. Great 
warehouses and wharves were built. Soon huge ocean 
ships and steamers began unloading their cargoes at 
these wharves. Then swift, rakish schooners began 
to drop into the harbor, and after discharging heavy 
loads of cotton would take on cargoes of English goods, 
and slip out at nightfall to begin the stealthy dash 
past the watching gunboats. As the war went on, 
and the profits of the trade increased with its dangers, 
a new style of craft began to appear in the little harbor. 
These were the Clyde built blockade-runners, on which 
the workmen of the Clyde shipyards had been labor- 
ing day and night to get them ready before the war 
should end. They were long, low, piratical looking 
craft, with two smoke-stacks raking aft, and with one 
or two masts for showing signals, for they never hoisted 
a sail. I'wo huge paddle-boxes towered above the 
deck amidships, the wheels being of enormous size. 
No structure of any kind encumbered the deck. Even 
the steersman stood unsheltered at the wheel in the 
bow. They were painted dark gray, and at night 
could slip unseen along the water with'm a stone's- 
throw of the most watchful lookout on a man-of-war. 
They burned great quantities of a kind of coal that 
gave out no smoke, and when steaming at night not 
a light was allowed on board. Sometimes returning 
agents of the Confederacy from Europe would make 
the run through the blockading-fleet; so that the block- 
ade-runners were seldom without two or three passen- 
gers, poor though their accommodations might be. For 
the voyage from Nassau to Wilmington, three hundred 
dollars passage money was charged, or more than fifty 
cents a mile. To guard against treachery, passage 
could only be obtained through the Confederate consul. 



3i6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

who carefully investigated the proofs of each appli- 
cant's identity before issuing to him a ticket. A sol- 
dier going to enlist in one of the Confederate cavalry 
regiments thus tells the story of his evasion of the 
blockade. 

*' After a favorable voyage we reached the desired 
point off Wilmington at the proper time. A brief 
stoppage was made, when soon the final preparations 
were completed for running the gauntlet of the Federal 
blockaders, who would become visible shortly, as we 
approached nearer shore. All the lights in the steamer 
were extinguished, and all passengers ordered below, 
only the officers and crew being permitted to remain 
on deck. The furnaces were replenished with care- 
fully selected coal, which would give the greatest 
amount of heat and the least smoke. The last orders 
were given, and every man was at his appointed place. 
Presently the boilers hissed, and the paddle-wheels be- 
gan to revolve faster and faster, as the fleet little 
steamer rose higher and higher in the water from the 
immense force of the rapid strokes; she actually felt 
like a horse gathering himself up under you for a 
great leap. After a little while, the few faint sounds 
from the deck which we could hitherto faintly catch 
in the cabin ceased altogether, and there was the still- 
ness of death except for the sounds necessarily made 
by the movements of the machinery. Then we real- 
ized that we were running for our lives past the line 
of cruisers, and that at any moment a big shell might 
come crashing through our cabin, disagreeably lighting 
up the darkness in which we were sitting. Our suspense 
was prolonged for some minutes longer, when the 
speed was slackened, and finally we stopped altogether. 
Even then we did not know whether we were safely 
through the lines, or whether we had been brought 
to under the guns of a hostile ship, for we could dis- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 317 

tinguish nothing whatever through the portholes. 
However, we were soon released from the cabin, and 
walked on deck, to find ourselves safely through the 
blockade. In the offing could be descried several of 
the now harmless blockaders, and near at hand lay the 
coast of North Carolina. Soon the gray dawn was 
succeeded by a brilliant, lovely sunrise, which lighted 
up cheerfully the low-lying shores and earthworks brist- 
ling with artillery, while from a fort near by floated 
the Southern Cross, the symbol of the glorious cause 
for which we had come to fight." 

One of the most brilliant captures of the war was 
that of the blockade-runner " Young Republic," by the 
United States gunboat " Grand Gulf." The " Young 
Republic " succeeded in evading the watchfulness of 
the blockading-squadron about the mouth of the Cape 
Fear River, and under cover of the night ran in safely 
to the anchorage under the guns of the Confederate 
forts. The baffled blockaders saw her moving slowly 
up the river, while the cannon of the forts on either 
side thundered out salutes to the daring vessel that 
brought precious supplies to the Confederacy. But the 
blockading-squadron, though defeated for the time, de- 
termined to wait and catch her when she came out. 
Accordingly the " Grand Gulf," one of the fastest of 
the United States vessels, was stationed at the mouth 
of the river, with orders to watch for the " Young 
Republic." A week passed, and there was no sign 
of her. At last, one bright day, the lookout in the 
tops saw the mast and funnel of a steamer moving along 
above the forest which lined the river's bank. Soon 
the hull of the vessel came into view; and with a rattle 
of hawse-chains, her anchors were let fall, and she 
swung to beneath the protecting guns of the fort. It 
was clear that she was going to wait there until a dark 
or foggy night gave her a good chance to slip past 



3i8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the gunboat that watched the river's mouth as a cat 
watches the mouth of a mouse-hole. With their marine 
glasses the officers on the gunboat could see the decks 
of the " Young Republic " piled high with brown bales 
of cotton, worth immense sums of money. They 
thought of the huge value of the prize, and the grand 
distribution of prize-money, and determined to use 
every effort to make a capture. Strategy was deter- 
mined upon, and it was decided to give the blockade- 
runner the chance to get out of the river that she was 
awaiting. Accordingly the gunboat steamed away up 
the coast a few miles, leaving the mouth of the river 
clear. When hidden by a projecting headland, she 
stopped and waited for the blockade-runner to come 
out. The stokers were kept hard at work making the 
great fires roar, until the steam-gauge showed the high- 
est pressure the boilers could bear. The sailors got 
out additional sails, clewed up cordage and rigging, and 
put the ship in order for a fast run. When enough 
time had elapsed, she steamed out to see if the " Young 
Republic" had taken the bait. Officers and crew 
crowded forward to catch the first sight around the 
headland. The great man-of-war sped through the 
water. The headland was rounded, and a cheer went 
up from the crowd of jackies; for there, in the offing, 
was the blockade-runner, gliding through the water 
like a dolphin, and steaming for dear life to Nassau. 
Then the chase began in earnest. The " Young Re- 
public " was one of those long, sharp steamers built 
on the Clyde expressly for running the blockade. Her 
crew knew that a long holiday in port, with plenty of 
money, would follow a successful cruise; and they 
worked untiringly to keep up the fires, and set every 
sail so that it would draw. On the cruiser the jackies 
saw visions of a prize worth a million and a half of 
dollars; and the thought of so much prize-money to 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 319 

spend, or to send home, spurred them on. For several 
hours the chase seemed likely to be a long, stern one; 
but then the freshening wind filled the sails of the 
gunboat, and she began to overhaul the fugitive. 
When within a mile or two, she began firing great shells 
with her pivot-gun. Then the flying blockade-runner 
began to show signs of fear; and with a good glass 
the crew could be seen throwing over bale after bale 
of the precious cotton, to lighten the vessel. In the 
last thirty miles of the chase the sea was fairly covered 
with cotton-bales. More than three hundred were 
passed floating in the water; and the jackies gnashed 
their teeth, and growled gruffly, at the sight of so much 
wealth slipping through their fingers. On the high 
paddle-wheel box of the blockade-runner, the captain 
could be seen coolly directing his crew, and now and 
again turning to take a look through his glass at the 
pursuer. As the chase continued, the certainty of cap- 
ture became more and more evident. Then the fugi- 
tives began throwing overboard or destroying every- 
thing of value : furniture, silverware, chronometers, the 
fittings of the cabin, everything that could benefit their 
captors, the chagrined blockade-runners destroyed. 
The officers of the gunboat saw that if they wished to 
gain anything by their capture, they must make haste. 
At the risk of an explosion, more steam was crowded 
on; and the gunboat was soon alongside the "Young 
Republic," and in a position to give her an enormous 
broadside. The blockade-runner saw that he was 
caught and must submit. For lack of a white flag, a pil- 
low-case was run up to the masthead, and the beating of 
the great wheels stopped. The davits amidships of the 
" Grand Gulf " are swung out, and a boat's crew, with 
a lieutenant and dapper midshipman, climb in. A 
quick order, " Let fall there," and the boat drops into 
the water, and is headed for the prize. Another mo- 



320 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ment, and the Stars and Stripes supplant the pillow- 
case waving from the masthead of the " Young Re- 
public." An officer who went into the boiler-room 
found that the captured crew had planned to blow up 
the vessel by tying down the safety-valve, so that an 
enormous pressure of steam strained the boilers almost 
to bursting. A quick blow of a hatchet, and that 
danger was done away with. Then, with a prize- 
crew on board, the " Young Republic " started on her 
voyage to New York; while the "Grand Gulf" re- 
turned to Wilmington to hunt for fresh game. 

A curious capture was that of the British schooner 
" Francis," which was running between Nassau and the 
coast of Florida. On her last trip she was nearing 
the coast, when she fell in with a fishing-smack, and 
was warned that a Federal gunboat was not far away. 
Still she kept on her course until sundown, when the 
breeze went down, and she lay becalmed. The gun- 
boat had been steaming into inlets and lagoons all day, 
and had not sighted the schooner. When night came 
on, she steamed out into the open sea, within a quarter 
of a mile of the blockade-runner, and, putting out all 
lights, lay to for the night. Those on the schooner 
could see the gunboat, but the lookout on the cruiser 
did not see the blockade-runner. Soon a heavy fog 
came up, and entirely hid the vessels from each other. 
The blockade-runners could only hope that a breeze 
might spring up, and enable them to escape. But now 
a curious thing occurred. It almost seems as if two 
vessels on the ocean exercise a magnetic attraction for 
each other, so often do collisions occur where there 
seems room for all the navies of the world to pass in 
review. So it was this night. The anxious men on 
the schooner soon found that the two vessels were drift- 
ing together, and they were absolutely powerless to 
prevent it. At midnight, though they could see noth- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 321 

ing, they could hear the men on the gunboat talking. 
Two hours after, the schooner nestled gently up by 
the side of the gunboat; and a slight jar gave its crew 
their first intimation that a prize was there, simply wait- 
ing to be taken. All they had to do was to climb over 
the railing. This was promptly done, and the dis- 
gusted blockade-runners were sent below as prisoners. 
Half an hour later came a breeze that would have 
carried them safely to port. 

Sometimes runners were captured through apparently 
the most trivial accidents. One ship, heavily laden with 
army supplies, and carrying a large number of passen- 
gers, was running through the blockading fleet, and 
seemed sure of escape. All lights were out, the pas- 
sengers were in the cabin, not a word was to be heard 
on deck, even the commands of the officers being de- 
livered in whispers. Suddenly a prolonged cock-crow 
rent the air, and, with the silence of everything sur- 
rounding, sounded like a clarion peal from a trumpet. 
The deck-hands rushed for a box of poultry on the 
deck, and dragged out bird after bird, wringing their 
necks. The true offender was almost the last to be 
caught, and avenged the deaths of his brothers by 
crowing vigorously all the time. The noise was enough 
to alarm the blockaders; and in a moment the hail, 
*' Surrender, or we'll blow you out of water! " brought 
the unlucky runner to a standstill, — a prisoner. The 
" Southern Cross " narrowly escaped capture on account 
of the stupidity of an Irish deck-hand, whose craving 
for tobacco proved too strong for his discretion. The 
ship was steaming slyly by two cruisers, and in the 
darkness would have escaped unseen, when the deck- 
hand, who had been without a smoke as long as he 
could stand it, lit a match and puffed away at his 
pipe. The tiny flame was enough for the cruisers, and 
they began a spirited cannonade. The " Southern 



322 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Cross " ran for her life. The shooting was guess- 
work, but the gunners on the cruisers showed all the 
proverbial Yankee skill at guessing. The first ball 
carried away the roof of the pilot-house, and the second 
ripped away the railing along the deck for thirty feet. 
But the captain was plucky, and made a run for it. 
He was forced to pass within a hundred feet of one 
of the cruisers; and as he saw the muzzles of the great 
guns bearing on his ships, he heard the command, 
*' Heave to, or I'll sink you." But he took his chances, 
and escaped with only the damage caused by a solid 
shot crashing through the hull. 

One of the strangest experiences of all was that of 
the captain of a blockade-runner putting in to Wilming- 
ton one bitter cold night, when the snow was blowing 
in clouds, and the fingers of the men at the wheel and 
the sailors on watch were frostbitten. The runner had 
reached the harbor safely; but there in channel lay a 
blockader in such a position that any ship coming in 
must pass within a hundred feet of her. The Con- 
federate had a light-draught vessel, and tried to squeeze 
through. When he passed the gunboat, only twelve 
feet of space separated the two vessels; and he saw 
a lookout, with his arms on the rail, looking right at 
the passing vessel. The Confederate expected an im- 
mediate alarm, but it did not come. Wondering at the 
cause, but happy in his luck, he sped on, and gained 
the harbor safely. Some days after, he learned that 
the lookout was a dead man, frozen at his post of 
duty. 

It will readily be understood that the inducements 
offered to blockade-runners must have been immense 
to persuade men to run such risks. The officers and 
sailors made money easily, and spent it royally when 
they reached Nassau. " I never expect to see such 
flush times again in my life," said a blockade-running 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 323 

captain, speaking of Nassau. " Money was as plenti- 
ful as dirt, I have seen a man toss up a twenty-dollar 
gold piece on ' heads or tails,' and it would be followed 
by a score of the yellow boys in five seconds. There 
were times when the bank-vaults could not hold all the 
gold, and the coins were dumped down by the bushel, 
and guarded by soldiers. Men wagered, gambled, 
drank, and seemed crazy to get rid of their money. 
I once saw two captains bet five hundred dollars each 
on the length of a certain porch. Again I saw a 
wager of eight hundred dollars a side as to how many 
would be at the dinner-table of a certain hotel. The 
Confederates were paying the English big prices for 
goods, but multiplying the figures by five, seven, and 
ten as soon as the goods were landed in Charleston. 
Ten dollars invested in quinine in Nassau would bring 
from four hundred to six hundred dollars in Charleston. 
A pair of four-dollar boots would bring from fourteen 
to sixteen dollars; a two-dollar hat would bring eight 
dollars, and so on through all the list of goods brought 
in. Every successful captain might have made a for- 
tune in a year; but it is not believed that five out of 
the whole number had a thousand dollars on hand when 
the war closed. It was come easy, go easy." 



CHAPTER XIX 

The Trent Afifair — Narrow Escape from War with England — 
Gushing and His Exploits — Destruction of the " Albemarle " — 
Loss of the "Harriet Lane." 

During the course of the Civil War many incidents 
occurred, some semi-pohtical and others purely political, 
widely separated in point of time or place, and bearing 
no relation one to the other. But each had a dis- 
tinct influence on the progress of the war, and all 
may be most conveniently described together in a single 
chapter. 

Early in the war the rash, though well-intended act 
of a navy officer, Captain Wilkes, brought Great 
Britain to the very point of interference as an ally of 
the Confederate States — an event which would have 
made the ultimate triumph of the Northern arms more 
than doubtful. The Confederates always seeking rec- 
ognition abroad as a belligerent nation, which they 
never won, were sending to London two diplomatic en- 
voys, Messrs. Mason and Slidell. These gentlemen 
having reached Havana on a blockade runner, talked 
freely there about their mission while waiting for a 
British steamer. In the harbor was the United States 
man-of-war " San Jacinto," whose commander, Captain 
Wilkes, determined to board the British steamer and 
take from it by force the two envoys. Such an act 
was clearly a violation of international law, and an 
affront to the rights and dignity of the British flag. 
Nevertheless, the British mail steamer " Trent " was 
intercepted in the Bahama Channel by the United 
States warship which fired a blank cartridge as a signal 
to heave to. The commander of the " Trent " ran the 

324 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 325 

British flag to the peak, and continued, feehng secure 
under the emblem of neutraHty. Then came a more 
peremptory summons in the shape of a solid shot across 
the bows; and, as the incredulous captain of the 
" Trent " still continued his course, a six-inch shell was 
dropped within about one hundred feet of his vessel. 
Then he stopped. A boat put off from the " San Ja- 
cinto," and made for the " Trent." Up the side of 
the merchant-vessel clambered a spruce lieutenant, and 
demanded the immediate surrender of the two commis- 
sioners. The captain protested, pointed to the flag 
with the cross of St. George waving above his head, 
and invoked the power of her Britannic majesty, — all 
to no avail. The two commissioners had retired to 
their cabins, and refused to come out without being 
compelled by actual force. The boat was sent back 
to the " San Jacinto," and soon returned with a file 
of marines, who were drawn up with their muskets on 
the deck of the " Trent." Every British ship which 
carries mails carries a regularly commissioned officer 
of the navy, who is responsible for them. This officer 
on the " Trent " was somewhat of a martinet, and his 
protests at this violation of the rights of a neutral ves- 
sel were very vigorous. When the first gun was fired, 
he rushed below, and soon reappeared in all the re- 
splendent glory of gold lace and brass buttons which 
go to make up a naval uniform. He danced about the 
deck in an ecstasy of rage, and made the most fearful 
threats of the wrath of the British people. The pas- 
sengers too became excited, and protested loudly. 
Everything possible was done by the people of the 
*' Trent " to put themselves on record as formally pro- 
testing. Nevertheless, the commissioners were taken 
away, carried to New York, and from there sent into 
confinement at Fort Warren. 

When the news of this achievement became known, 



326 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Wilkes was made the lion of the hour. Unthinking 
people met and passed resolutions of commendation. 
He was tendered banquets by cities. He was elected 
a member of learned societies In all parts of the coun- 
try, and was generally eulogized. Even the Secretary 
of the Navy, who should have recognized the grave 
troubles likely to grow out of this violation of the 
principles of neutrality, wrote a letter to Captain 
Wilkes, warmly indorsing his course, and only regret- 
ting that he had not captured the steamer as well as 
the two commissioners. 

But fortunately we had wiser heads In the other 
executive departments of the government. President 
Lincoln and Secretary Seward quickly disavowed all 
responsibility for Wilkes's action. Letters were writ- 
ten to the United States minister In England, Charles 
Francis Adams, alluding to the proceeding as one for 
which Captain Wilkes as an Individual was alone re- 
sponsible. And well It was that this attitude was 
taken : for hardly had the news reached England, when 
with one voice the people cried for war. Sympathizing 
with the South as the governing classes undoubtedly 
did. It needed but this insult to the British flag to rouse 
the war spirit of the nation. Transports loaded with 
troops were immediately ordered to Canada ; the re- 
serves were called out; the ordnance factories were set 
running day and night; while the press of the nation, 
and the British minister at Washington, demanded the 
immediate release of the captives, and a full apology 
from the United States. 

The matter was conducted on this side with the 
utmost diplomacy. We were undoubtedly in the 
wrong, and the only thing was to come out with as 
little sacrifice of national dignity as possible. The long 
time necessary for letters to pass between this country 
and England was an Important factor In calming the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 327 

people. Minister Adams said, that, had the Atlantic 
cable then been in operation, nothing could have pre- 
vented a war. In the end the demands of Great 
Britain were acceded to, and the commissioners pro- 
ceeded on their way. The last note of the diplomatic 
correspondence was a courteous letter from President 
Lincoln to the British minister, offering to allow the 
British troops en route for Canada to land at Port- 
land, Me., and thus avoid the long winter's march 
through New Brunswick. The peaceful settlement of 
the affair chagrined the Confederates not a little, as 
they had hoped to gain Great Britain as a powerful 
ally in their fight against the United States. 

The blockade and occupation of the North Carolina 
sounds, to which extended reference has already been 
made, developed early in the war a naval hero whose 
name became almost a household word. Debarred any 
very high rank because of his early death, the dash 
and recklessness of Lieutenant W. B. Cushing made 
him for a time the most talked of man in the navy. 
He entered the service when about nineteen years old, 
a tall, dark, slim, smooth-faced stripling. He must 
have distinguished himself early, for in 1862 he was 
in command of the steamer " Ellis " at New River 
Inlet. Here, to relieve the monotony of the blockade, 
he made frequent raids into the Confederate territory, 
usually seeking to find and destroy salt works, for the 
scarcity of salt due to the rigidity of the blockade 
was already one of the chief hardships of the Southern 
people. In one of these he lost his ship and narrowly 
escaped losing his crew as well. The " Ellis " had 
made a raid on Jacksonville, a little town thirty-five 
miles up a narrow stream, flowing through well-popu- 
lated Confederate territory. No salt works were found, 
but some arms were seized and a blockade-runner laden 
with cotton and turpentine burned. Another schooner 



328 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

was seized, and with it in tow the " Ellis " started back. 
But now the neighboring Confederates were roused, 
sharpshooters lined the bank, and at one point a small 
battery opened fire, but the Confederates were quickly 
driven from their guns. A night was spent at anchor, 
lanterns flashing on shore, and signals showing that the 
enemy were preparing to " bag " the beleaguered Yan- 
kees in the morning. And that morning brought the 
crowning stroke of bad luck. 

Soon after daylight, the pilot, mistaking the chan- 
nel, ran the ship so solidly aground that there was 
clearly no hope of extricating her. All this time she 
had been towing one of the captured schooners; and 
Cushing, with quick decisiveness, ordered that every- 
thing should be removed from the " Ellis " to the 
schooner. This was quickly done, leaving nothing but 
the great pivot-gun aboard. 

But even when so greatly lightened, the ship would 
not float, and Cushing saw that all was lost. As a 
final expedient he sent a boat's crew back after the 
cannon that the enemy had abandoned the day before, 
intending to construct a land-battery with them, and so 
keep his ship. But the Confederates had already re- 
moved the guns, so this forlorn hope failed. Orders 
were then given for the crew to take the schooner, and 
drop down the river for a mile or two. The young 
captain expressed his intention of remaining aboard his 
craft, and asked for six volunteers to help him fight 
the pivot-gun. They were quickly found; and, while 
the remainder of the crew dropped down the river in 
the schooner, the devoted little band calmly awaited 
the beginning of the attack. They did not have long 
to wait. Soon a cannon boomed from the bank, and 
a heavy shell whizzed over their heads. Then an- 
other, from another direction, and a third, and a fourth, 
each from a distinct battery. They were hopeless odds, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 329 

yet Gushing and his command fought on until the gun- 
ners, getting the range, dropped shot after shot into 
the doomed vessel. Then fire broke out in three or 
four places. This was too much; and the seven dar- 
ing men took to a small boat, and rowed to the 
schooner. First, however, they loaded the long gun, 
and turned it on the enemy, in order, as Gushing said, 
" that she might fight for herself when we could do 
so no longer." Once in the schooner, they sailed 
rapidly down the river; and just as they reached the 
sound a deep boom announced that the fire had reached 
the magazine, and the " Ellis " was blown into a mil- 
lion pieces. Daring as this adventure was. Gushing 
was much distressed at its termination; and in his offi.- 
cial report he asks for a general court of inquiry, to 
determine whether he had properly upheld the honor 
of the nation's flag. 

But the crowning achievement of Gushing's career — 
his lesser adventures would fill a respectable volume — 
was in the late years of the war. 

Early in the spring of 1863 it became evident to the 
officers of the Union squadron in the sounds, that 
the Confederates were making arrangements to drive 
the Yankee ships from those waters, and to reopen the 
coasting-trade to the people of North Carolina. The 
chief source of alarm to the fleet was a heavy iron- 
clad which was reported to be building on the Roanoke 
River above Plymouth. Full descriptions of this vessel 
were in the hands of the Union officers; and they saw 
clearly that, should she be completed, no vessel of the 
sound squadron, nor perhaps the entire navy, would be 
able to do battle against her successfully. The river 
was too shallow for the war-vessels to go up to the 
point where the ram was being built, and the channel 
at Hatteras Inlet was not deep enough for iron-clads 
to be brought in to compete with the enemy when 



330 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

finished. The naval authorities repeatedly urged the 
army to send an expedition to burn the boat; but Major- 
General Foster, in command of the department of 
North Carolina, declared it was of no importance, as 
the Confederates would never put it to any use. Time 
showed a very different state of affairs. In April, 
1864, the ram was completed, and named the "Albe- 
marle," Her first work was to co-operate with ten 
thousand Confederate troops in the recapture of Ply- 
mouth, which was accomplished with very little diffi- 
culty. Lieutenant Flusser was at Plymouth with four 
small gunboats, and remained bravely at his post as 
he saw the powerful ram bearing down upon him. It 
was half-past three in the morning, and the chill, gray 
dawn was just breaking over the earth. Above the 
river hung a mist, through which the great body of 
the ram could be seen coming doggedly down to the 
conflict. The " Miami " and " Southfield " were 
lashed together; and, at the order of Commander Flus- 
ser, they started to meet the iron-clad, firing quickly 
and with good aim. The " Albemarle " came on si- 
lently, disdaining to fire a gun. With a crash she 
struck the " Miami " a glancing blow on the port-bow, 
gouging off two great planks. Sliding past the 
wounded craft, she plunged into the " Southfield," 
crushing completely through her side, so that she began 
to settle at once. The lashings between the gunboats 
parted, and the " Southfield " sank rapidly, carrying 
part of her crew with her. As the " Albemarle " 
crashed into the two vessels, she fired her bow-gun 
several times, killing and wounding many of the Union 
sailors, and killing Lieutenant Flusser. When she 
turned and made a second dash for the " Miami," the 
latter fled down the stream, knowing that to dare 
the power of the enemy was mere madness. The 
" Albemarle " steamed back to Plymouth, and by 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 331 

her aid the town was easily recaptured by the Confed- 
erates. 

The squadron in the sounds was now in a state of 
the greatest anxiety. At any moment the impregnable 
monster might descend the river and destroy the frail 
wooden gunboats at her leisure. Preparations were 
made for a desperate battle when the time should come. 
Captains were instructed to bring their ships to close 
quarters with the enemy and to endeavor to throw pow- 
der or shells down her smoke-stack. Every possible 
means by which a wooden steamer might cope with an 
iron-clad was provided. 

On the 5th of May the ram put in an appearance, 
steaming down the river. Deliberately she approached 
within easy range, then let fly a shot at the " Matta- 
besett " which knocked her launch to pieces and 
wounded several men. The " Mattabesett " ran up 
to within one hundred and fifty yards of the " Albe- 
marle," and gave her a broadside of solid shot from 
nine-inch Dahlgrens and one-hundred-pounder rifles. 
When these shot struck a sloping place on the ram's 
armor, they glanced off. Those that struck full on 
t'he plating simply crumbled to pieces, leaving no dent 
to tell of the blow. One beautifully aimed shot struck 
the muzzle of one of the cannon on the ram and broke 
it. The gun was used throughout the fight, however, 
as the " Albemarle " carried but two and could not 
spare one of them. The " Sassacus " followed in line 
of battle. She delivered her broadside in passing. The 
ram rushed madly at her, but was evaded by good 
steering. Then the " Sassacus " in turn rushed at the 
ram at full speed, thinking to run her down. She 
struck amidships at right angles, and with the crash 
of the collision came a hundred-pound shot from the 
ram, that passed through the wooden ship from end 
to end. Still the engines of the " Sassacus " were kept 



332 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

going, in the hope of pushing the " Albemarle " be- 
neath the water. The iron-clad careened slowly, the 
water washed over her after-deck; the crew of the 
" Sassacus," far out on the bow, tried vainly to drop 
shells and packages of powder down the ram's smoking 
chimneys. It was a moment of intense excitement. 
But the ram was too much for her assailant. Recover- 
ing from the shock of the collision, she slowly swung 
around until her bow-gun could be brought to bear on 
her tormenter, when she let fly a ponderous bolt. It 
crashed through the side of the steamer and plunged 
into her boiler. In an instant hot, scalding steam filled 
the engine-room and spread over the whole ship. Cries 
of agony arose on every side. Twenty-one of the 
crew were terribly scalded. Nothing remained but re- 
treat; and the "Sassacus" steamed away from her 
enemy, after making one of the bravest fights in naval 
history. In the meantime the other gunboats were 
pounding away at the ram. The " Miami " was try- 
ing in vain to get an opportunity to discharge a large 
torpedo. Two other vessels were spreading nets about 
the great ship, trying to foul the propeller. The 
action continued until dark, when the ram withdrew, 
uninjured and without losing a man. She had fought 
alone for three hours against six ships, and had seri- 
ously damaged every one of her adversaries. It must 
also be remembered that she carried but two guns. 

The " Albemarle " lay for a long time idle at her 
moorings in Roanoke River, feeling sure that at her 
own pleasure she could go into the sounds, and com- 
plete the destruction of the fleet. Lieutenant Gushing, 
then twenty-one years old, begged permission to attempt 
to destroy her. The authority was gladly granted by 
the navy department, and Gushing began making his 
plans for the adventure. His first plan was to take a 
squad of men, with two steam-launches, up the Roan- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 333 

oke, and blow the ram up by means of a torpedo. The 
launches were sent from New York, but one was 
swamped while crossing Delaware Bay. 

Gushing, however, was not the man to be balked by 
an accident : so, cutting down his force one-half, he 
prepared for the start. Thirteen officers and men made 
up the little party which seemed bound to certain death. 
The spirit which animated the blue-jackets during the 
war may be imagined from the fact that many sailors 
tried to purchase the privilege of going on this perilous 
expedition, by offering their month's pay to those who 
had been selected. To understand what a forlorn hope 
the little boat-load of men were cherishing, we must 
understand what were the defences of the " Albe- 
marle." She lay at a broad wharf, on which was en- 
camped a large guard of soldiers as well as her crew. 
Above and below her, great fires were kept burning on 
the shores, to prevent any boat approaching unseen. 
She was surrounded by a boom, or " water-fence," of 
floating logs, about thirty feet from her hull, to keep 
off any torpedo-boats. From the mouth of the 
Roanoke to her moorings was about eight miles; the 
shores being lined on either side by pickets, and a large 
picket-station being established in mid-stream about one 
mile below Plymouth. 

To attempt to penetrate this network of defences 
seemed to be foolhardy. Yet Cushing's record for 
dash and courage, and his enthusiasm, inspired his com- 
rades with confidence; and they set out feeling certain 
of success. On the night of the 27th of October, the 
daring band, in their pygmy steamer, steamed rapidly 
up the river. No word was spoken aboard. The 
machinery was oiled until it ran noiselessly; and not 
a light shone from the little craft, save when the fur- 
nace-door was hastily opened to fire up. The Con- 
federate sentries on the bank saw nothing of the party ; 



334 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

and, even when they passed the picket schooners near 
the wreck of the " Southfield," they were unchallenged, 
although they could see the schooners, and hear the 
voices of the men, not more than twenty yards away. 
Not until they came into the fitful glare of the firelight 
were they seen, and then quick hails came from the 
sentries on the wharf and the " Albemarle's " decks. 
But the light on the shore aided the adventurers by 
showing them the position of the ram. They dashed 
up alongside, amid a shower of bullets that seemed to 
fill the air. On the decks of the ram all was confusion, 
the alarm rattles were sprung, the bell rung violently. 
The launch running alongside came into contact with 
the row of logs, and sheered off to make a dash over 
it. Gushing, who on these dangerous expeditions was 
like a schoolboy on a holiday, answered with ridicule all 
hails. " Go ashore for your lives," " Surrender your- 
selves, or I shall sink you," he cried, as the gunners 
on the ram trained a heavy gun on the little launch. 
Now she was headed straight for the ram, and had 
a run of thirty yards before striking the boom. She 
reached, and dashed over. Gushing, standing in the 
stern, held in one hand the tiller ropes, in the other 
the lanyard of the torpedo. He looked up, saw the 
muzzle of a heavy gun trained directly on his boat : 
one convulsive pull of the rope, and with a roar the 
torpedo exploded under the hull of the " Albemarle," 
just as a hundred-pound shot crashed through the bot- 
tom of his boat. In a second the launch had dis- 
appeared; her crew were struggling in the waves, or 
lying dead beneath them, and the " Albemarle," with 
a mortal wound, was sinking to the bottom. 

Gushing swam to the middle of the river, and headed 
down stream. Most of his companions were killed, 
captured, or drowned. In the middle of the stream 
he met Woodman, who had followed him on previous 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 335 

expeditions. Woodman was almost exhausted. Gush- 
ing supported him as long as he was able, but was 
forced to leave him, and the sailor sank to the bottom. 
The young lieutenant floated down the river until at 
last he reached the shore, exhausted and faint from a 
wound in his wrist. He lay half-covered with water 
in a swamp until daylight. While there he heard two 
Confederate officers who passed say that the " Albe- 
marle " was a total wreck. That news gave him new 
energy, and he set about getting safely away. Through 
the thick undergrowth of the swamp he crawled for 
some hours, until he found a negro who gave him 
shelter and food. Then he plunged again into the 
swamp, and walked on until he captured a skiff from a 
Rebel picket; and with this he safely reached the fleet, 
— the only one of the thirteen who set out two days 
before. 

While such individual exploits were being performed 
on the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf was the scene of some 
notable deeds of high daring by both Union and Con- 
federate sailors. One was done at Pensacola by sail- 
ors of the United States frigate " Colorado," which 
was blockading that port. From the decks of the 
ship officers with glasses could see a small schooner 
lying near the navy-yard, evidently being fitted out as 
a privateer. They determined to cut her out, or at 
least destroy her. It was not an adventure to be under- 
taken lightly. One thousand men were in the navy- 
yard ready to spring to the schooner's defence. A 
ten-inch columbiad and a twelve-pounder field piece 
were so mounted on the dock as to sweep her decks 
should an enemy gain them. Fort Pensacola not far 
distant was full of Confederate troops. Nevertheless, 
the Union officers determined upon the attempt. 

Accordingly, on the first dark night, four boats, con- 
taining one hundred officers, sailors, and marines, put 



336 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

off from the side of the " Colorado," and headed for 
the town. All was done with the most perfect silence. 
The tholes of the oars were wrapped In cloth to deaden 
their rattle in the rowlocks. No lights were carried. 
Not a word was spoken after the officers in muffled 
tones had given the order, " Give way." Through the 
darkness of the night the heavy boats glide on. Every 
man aboard has his work laid out for him, and each 
knows what he is to do. While the main body are 
to be engaged in beating back the guards, some are 
to spike the guns, and others to fire the schooner in 
several places. When within a hundred yards of the 
schooner, they are discovered by the sentry. As his 
ringing hail comes over the water, the sailors make no 
reply, but bend to the oars, and the boats fairly leap 
toward the wharf. Bang! goes the sentry's rifle; and 
the men in the hold of the schooner come rushing up 
just as the two boats dash against her side, and the 
sailors spring like cats over the bulwarks. One man 
was found guarding the guns on the wharf, and was 
shot down. Little time is needed to spike the guns, 
and then those on the wharf turn in to help their com- 
rades on the schooner. Here the fighting is sharp 
and hand to hand. Nearly a hundred men are crowded 
on the deck, and deal pistol-shots and cutlass-blows 
right and left. Several of the crew of the schooner 
have climbed into the tops, and from that point of 
vantage pour down on the attacking party a murderous 
fire. Horrid yells go up from the enraged combatants, 
and the roar of the musketry is deafening. The crew 
of the schooner are forced backward, step by step, until 
at last they are driven off the vessel altogether, and 
stand on the wharf delivering a rapid fire. The men 
from the navy-yard are beginning to pour down to 
the wharf to take a hand in the fight. But now a 
column of smoke begins to arise from the open com- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 337 

panionway; and the blue-jackets see that their work, is 
done, and tumble over the side into their boats. It is 
high time for them to leave, for the Confederates are 
on the wharf in overwhelming force. As they stand 
there, crowded together, the retiring sailors open on 
them with canister from two howitzers in the boats. 
Six rounds of this sort of firing sends the Confederates 
looking for shelter; and the sailors pull off through 
the darkness to their ship, there to watch the burning 
vessel, until, with a sudden burst of flame, she is blown 
to pieces. 

Considering the dashing nature of this exploit, the 
loss of life was wonderfully small. Lieutenant Blake, 
who commanded one of the boats, was saved by one 
of those strange accidents so common in war. As he 
was going over the side of the " Colorado," some one 
handed him a metal flask filled with brandy, to be used 
for the wounded. He dropped it into the lower pocket 
of his overcoat, but finding it uncomfortable there, 
changed it to the side pocket of his coat, immediately 
over his heart. When the boats touched the side of 
the schooner, Blake was one of the first to spring into 
the chains and clamber aboard. Just as he was spring- 
ing over the gunwale, a Confederate sailor pointed a 
pistol at his heart, and fired it just as Blake cut him 
down with a savage cutlass-stroke. The bullet sped 
true to its mark, but struck the flask, and had just 
enough force to perforate it, without doing any injury 
to the lieutenant. 

A Gulf city that had been in the hands of the Union 
forces since the early days of the war was Galveston, 
Texas. The people of the town and of the surround- 
ing country were strong secessionists, and the three 
regiments of infantry stationed there would have been 
quite inadequate to hold the town had it not been for 
the three gunboats anchored in the harbor, whose big 



338 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

guns had a quieting effect on the discontented citizens. 
But it had long been rumored that a determined effort 
would be made to destroy or drive away the ships and 
retake Galveston for the Confederacy. Accordingly, 
when, on January i, 1863, the lookout on the "Har- 
riet Lane," one of the Union ships, saw a black cloud 
of smoke coming down the river he instantly suspected 
an attack and gave the alarm. 

In a moment the roll of the drums made the sailors 
below spring from their hammocks, and, hastily throw- 
ing on their clothes, rush on deck. The drums beat 
to quarters, and the crew were soon at their guns. Over 
the water came the roll of the drums from the other 
ships, and from the troops on shore, now all aroused 
and in arms. For thirty hours the Federals had been 
expecting this attack, and now they were fully pre- 
pared for it. 

The attacking vessels came nearer, and the men on 
the Union ships strained their eyes to see by the faint 
starlight what manner of craft they had to meet. They 
proved to be two large river-steamships, piled high 
with cotton-bales, crowded with armed men, and pro- 
vided with a few field pieces. Clearly they were only 
dangerous at close quarters, and the " Lane " at once 
began a rapid fire to beat them back. But the bad 
light spoiled her gunners' aim, and she determined to 
rush upon the enemy, and run him down. The Con- 
federate captain managed his helm skilfully, and the 
" Lane " struck only a glancing blow. Then, in her 
turn, the " Lane " was rammed by the Confederate 
steamer, which plunged into her with a crash and a 
shock which seemed almost to lift the ships out of 
water. The two vessels drifted apart, the " Lane " 
hardly injured, but the Confederate with a gaping 
wound in his bow which sent him to the bottom in 
fifteen minutes. But now the other Confederate came 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 339 

bearing down under a full head of steam, and crashed 
into the " Lane." Evidently the Confederates wanted 
to fight in the old style; for they threw out grappling- 
irons, lashed the two ships side to side, and began pour- 
ing on to the deck of the Federal ship for a hand-to- 
hand conflict. Cries of anger and pain, pistol-shots, 
cutlass blows, and occasional roars from the howitzers 
rose on the night air, and were answered by the sounds 
of battle from the shore, where the Confederates had 
attacked the slender Union garrison. The sinking 
steamer took up a position near the " Lane," and 
poured broadside after broadside upon the struggling 
Union ship. But where were the other three Union 
vessels all this time? It seemed as though their com- 
manders had lost all their coolness; for they ran their 
vessels here and there, now trying to do something 
to help their friends on shore, now making an ineffectual 
attempt to aid the " Harriet Lane." But on board 
that vessel matters were going badly for the Federals. 
The Confederates in great numbers kept pouring over 
the bulwarks, and were rapidly driving the crew from 
the deck. Captain Wainwright lay dead at the door 
of the cabin. Across his body stood his young son, 
his eyes blazing, his hair waving in the wind. He 
held in his right hand a huge revolver, which he was 
firing without aim into the tossing mass of struggling 
men before him, while he called on his dead father to 
rise and help him. A stray bullet cut off two of his 
fingers, and the pain was too much for the little hero 
only ten years old; and, dropping the pistol, he burst 
into tears, crying, " Do you want to kill me?" The 
blue-jackets began to look anxiously for help toward 
the other vessels. But, even while they looked, they 
saw all hope of help cut oft; for with a crash and a 
burst of flame the " Westfield " blew up. It turned out 
later, that, finding his ship aground, the captain of the 



340 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

" Westfield " had determined to abandon her, and fire 
the magazine; but in fixing his train he made a fatal 
error, and the ship blew up, hurling captain and crew 
into the air. The men on the " Harriet Lane " saw 
that all hope was gone, and surrendered their ship. 
When the captains of the two remaining gunboats saw 
the Stars and Stripes fall from the peak, they turned 
their vessels' prows toward the sea, and scudded out of 
danger of capture. At the same moment, cheers from 
the gray-coats on shore told that the Confederates had 
been successful both by land and sea, and the Stars 
and Bars once more floated over Galveston. 



CHAPTER XX 

On Inland Waters — The River Gunboats — U. S. Grant at Belmont — 
Capture of Forts Henry and Donelson — Northern Line of the 
Confederacy Broken — Stubborn Defense of Island No. lo — A 
New Channel for the Mighty River — Running the Gauntlet. 

No more effective service was rendered by the United 
States navy than on the inland rivers, and the gallantry 
and dash of the Southern people was nowhere more 
strikingly shown than on those great waterways which 
they had come to look upon as peculiarly their own. 
In the Eastern States the rivers were usually a hindrance 
to the progress of the Northern arms, for flowing as 
they do from west to east, they had to be crossed 
by the armies making southward. But in the West 
the rolling Mississippi furnished a royal pathway for 
the Union troops in their invasion of Southern terri- 
tory, while such of its tributaries as the Tennessee, 
Cumberland, and Red Rivers afforded opportunity to 
take troops expeditiously into the heart of the Con- 
federacy, and to keep them supplied with munitions of 
war. The Confederates were not blind to the peril 
involved in the topography of their country, and had 
early begun the fortification of their rivers. The 
Union naval and military base was at Cairo, Illinois, 
situated at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi 
Rivers. South of that point every river was lined with 
Confederate batteries, supported by gunboats, for only 
on the inland waters did the Confederate naval force 
in any way compare with that of the Union. At the 
mouth of the Mississippi, Forts Jackson and St. Philip 
long held back the wistful blue-jackets eager to steam 
up to the rich prize, New Orleans. Thousands of 

341 



342 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

miles to the northward, almost at the line of the Ohio 
River, were heavy batteries at Columbus and at Bel- 
mont on the western side of the river. Further down 
was Island No. lo, in the centre of the rushing, turbid 
flood, where some of the most powerful defensive 
works then known to military science had been erected. 
The Cumberland River was guarded by Fort Donelson; 
the Tennessee by Fort Henry. Fort Pillow frowned 
above the city of Memphis. The works at Vicksburg 
equalled those with which Sebastopol so long defied the 
allied armies of Europe. All the way from Cairo to 
New Orleans were batteries, earthworks, and watchful 
gunboats. 

Naturally, the first task of the navy authorities was 
the creation of a fleet. Its beginnings were small, but 
before the end of the war no less than one hundred 
Union gunboats floated on the Mississippi and its tribu- 
taries. At first they were mere remodelled river steam- 
ers, flimsy, unarmored, with bulwarks that would hardly 
stop a rifle bullet. But early in July, 1861, contracts 
for seven iron-clad gunboats were let to James B. 
Eads, the distinguished engineer, who later built the 
jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi and the great 
bridge at St. Louis. The craft were to carry fifteen 
guns; to be protected by two and one-half-inch iron 
plating and draw not more than six feet of water. All 
were to be completed within sixty-five days. It was 
no light task, but was completed in time. Squat, ugly, 
dark within and dismal without, the vessels seemed to 
look the part they had to play — that of malign mon- 
sters breathing forth smoke and flame and spreading 
destruction and death over land and water. 

The first service of the inland navy after a few in- 
significant skirmishes was a useful, if not particularly 
notable one. A small force of Union troops under 
General U. S. Grant, then unknown to fame, made a 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 343 

river expedition from Cairo to destroy the Confederate 
battery at Belmont, on the Missouri side of the river. 
The enemy's camp was not fortified, and was speedily 
in the hands of the assailants, who begun its destruction 
and disarmament. But the commotion attracted the 
attention of the commander of the heavier Confederate 
works across the river, who at once turned his guns on 
the victors. They were quickly thrown Into confusion, 
and the Confederates who had fled in the first surprise 
reformed and made a determined attempt to recapture 
their battery and prevent the escape of Grant's force. 
But now came the turn of the gunboats. Their shells 
and shrapnel ploughed through the lines of the enemy, 
while the rifles and light field artillery of the foe had 
no effect on the iron plating of the vessels. Under 
cover of this fire the Union troops retreated to their 
transports and were soon safe In Cairo. A disaster 
that would have discouraged the Western forces in the 
very first days of the war was averted. 

In surveying the work of the navy on inland waters 
It must be kept in mind that it was almost Invariably 
conducted In connection with the army. The gun- 
boats were reducing batteries that transports might pass 
safely; engaging forts while a land attack was in prog- 
ress, or keeping rivers open that the distributing of 
rations and munitions of war might be uninterrupted. 
The work of the armies is a long story in itself, and 
must be Ignored here, except in so far as reference to 
it is necessary to make Intelligible the work of the men 
afloat. 

In February, 1862, General Grant determined to 
strike the first blow for the opening of the Confederacy 
by capturing, or destroying. Fort Henry on the Ten- 
nessee River. The moment was propitious. The 
earthworks forming the fort had been planned on a 
formidable scale, but were only half completed and 



344 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

less than half armed. At many points It was wide 
open to artillery fire from the river or from the oppo- 
site bank. Grant's plan Involved a frontal attack from 
the river by Commodore A. H. Foote and seven gun- 
boats, four armored, while the troops should be landed 
below the fort and attack It from the rear. Foote on 
hearing the plan quietly remarked that the fort would 
surrender to his guns before the troops could reach It, 
which proved to be the case. General Tllghman, in 
command of the defenders realized the hopelessness of 
his situation when he heard of the Federal advance and 
sent four-fifths of his garrison across country to Fort 
Donelson, desiring to expose as few men as possible 
to the risk of capture. 

At daybreak on a chill February morning the Union 
troops took up their march through the dripping woods, 
while the gunboats cast off and steamed up the river. 
The four Iron-clads led, steaming abreast. About a 
mile in the rear, came the three wooden vessels. The 
fort was soon in range; but both parties seemed anxious 
for a determined conflict, and no shot was fired on 
either side as the gunboats came sullenly on. How 
different must have been the feelings of the two com- 
batants! Tilghman, with his handful of men, hardly 
able to work eight of the eleven guns mounted in his 
fort, and knowing that his defeat was a mere question 
of time; Foote, with his iron-clads and supporting gun- 
boats, his seventy-two guns, and his knowledge that 
six thousand men were marching upon the rear of the 
Confederate works. On the one side, all was absolute 
certainty of defeat; on the other, calm confidence of 
victory. 

When the flotilla was within a third of a mile of 
the fort, the fire began. The gunners on the ships 
could see the muzzles of the Confederate guns, the 
piles of shells and cannon-balls, and the men at their 




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FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 345 

work. The firing on both sides was deliberate and 
deadly. The Confederates were new to the work, but 
they proved themselves good marksmen. The first shot 
was fired from the shore, and, missing the " Essex " 
by but a few feet, plumped into the water, so near the 
next ship in line as to throw water over her decks. 
Within five minutes, the " Essex " and the " Cincin- 
nati " were both hit. The armor of the gunboats 
proved no match for the shots of the Confederates, 
and in many cases it was penetrated. In some in- 
stances, shells, entering through the portholes, did 
deadly damage. 

On the shore, the shells from the gunboats were 
doing terrible work. Banks of solid earth, eight feet 
thick, were blown away by the explosions. One, burst- 
ing in front of a ten-inch columbiad, filled that power- 
ful gun with mud almost to the muzzle, disabling it 
for the remainder of the fight. A shot from the 
"Essex" struck the muzzle of a great gun, ripped off 
a splinter of iron three feet long, and crushed a gun- 
ner to pulp. The gun was just about to be fired, and 
burst, killing or wounding every man of the crew. At 
the same moment a shell crashed through the side of 
the "Essex," killing men right and left: took off the 
head of a sailor standing by Captain Porter, wounded 
the captain, and plunged into the boiler. In an instant 
the ship was filled with scalding steam. The men in 
the pilot-house were suffocated. Twenty men and ofli- 
cers were killed or scalded. The ship was disabled, 
and drifted out of the fight. While withdrawing, she 
received two more shots, making twenty in all that had 
fallen to her share in this hot engagement. But by 
this time the fort was very thoroughly knocked to 
pieces. The big twenty-four-pounder was dismounted, 
and five of its crew killed. Gun after gun was keeled 
over, and man after man carried bleeding to the bomb- 



346 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

proofs, until General Tilghman himself dropped coat 
and sword, and pulled away at a gun by the side of 
his soldiers. Receiving ten shots while they could only 
fire one, this little band held out for two long hours; 
and only when the crew of the last remaining piece 
threw themselves exhausted on the ground, did the flag 
come fluttering down. General Tilghman went to the 
fleet and surrendered the fort to Commodore Foote, 
and Grant's army came up more than an hour after 
the battle was over. To the navy belongs the honor 
of taking Fort Henry, while to General Tilghman and 
his plucky soldiers belongs the honor of making one 
of the most desperate fights under the most unfavor- 
able circumstances recorded in the history of the Civil 
War. 

The fall of Fort Henry opened the way for the 
Union advance to Fort Donelson, and marked the first 
step of the United States Government toward regain- 
ing control of the Mississippi. It broke the northern 
battle-line of the Confederacy, and never again was 
that line re-established. 

Within a few hours after the fall of Fort Henry 
three of Foote's gunboats were steaming up the Ten- 
nessee to examine the surrounding country. A rail- 
road bridge with shattered draw delayed them for a 
time, but was finally passed by the " Conestoga " and 
" Lexington," Their advance spread panic among the 
Confederates. Two steamers loaded with munitions 
of war were deserted by their crews and burned. An 
almost completed iron-clad ram, the " Eastport," was 
captured and made part of the Union fleet, and great 
quantities of lumber and ship-timber were seized. 
When the head of navigation was reached the invaders 
put about and returned to Cairo, to find Grant and 
Foote about ready to proceed against Fort Donelson. 
This fortification was one strongly relied upon by the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 347 

Confederates for the maintenance of their northern line 
of battle. It was on the bank of the Cumberland 
River, nearly opposite the site of Fort Henry on the 
Tennessee, A garrison of at least fifteen thousand men 
manned the works, and were commanded by no less 
than three generals; and the fact that there were three 
generals in command had much to do with the fall 
of the fort. Its strength was rather on its river-front. 
Here the river winds about between abrupt hillsides, 
and on the front of one of these hills stood Fort Donel- 
son. The water-batteries were made up of heavy guns, 
so mounted as to command the river for miles. On 
the landward side were heavy earthworks, abatis, and 
sharp pointed chevaux-de-frise. 

Against this fortress Grant led an army of eighteen 
thousand men, and Foote directed his flotilla of gun- 
boats. But the honors this time were destined to fall 
to the army, the riverside batteries of the fort proving 
impregnable. It was the 13th of April when the gun- 
boat " Carondelet " opened the attack. This vessel 
had reached the scene of action before the rest of the 
flotilla, and by order of the army commander tested 
the strength of the fort by a day's cannonade. She 
stationed herself about a mile from the batteries, at a 
spot where she would be somewhat protected by a 
jutting point, and began a deliberate cannonade with 
her bow-guns. One hundred and thirty shots went 
whizzing from her batteries against the front of the 
Confederate batteries, without doing any serious dam- 
age. Then came an iron ball weighing one hundred 
and twenty pounds, fired from a heavy gun, which 
burst through one of her portholes, and scattered men 
bleeding and mangled in every direction over the gun- 
deck. She withdrew a short distance for repairs, but 
soon returned, and continued the fire the remainder of 
the day. When evening fell, she had sent one hun- 



348 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

dred and eighty shells at the fort, with the result of 
killing one man. This was not promising. 

The next day the attack was taken up by all the 
gunboats. The distance chosen this time was four 
hundred yards, and the fight was kept up most stub- 
bornly. It was St. Valentine's Day; and as the swarthy 
sailors, stripped to the waist, begrimed with powder, 
and stained with blood, rammed huge iron balls down 
the muzzles of the guns, they said with grim pleasantry, 
" There's a valentine for the gray-coats." And right 
speedily did the gray-coats return the gift. Shot and 
shell from the batteries came in volleys against the sides 
of the gunboats. In the fort the condition of affairs 
was not serious. The shells chiefly fell in the soft 
earth of the hilltop above, and embedded themselves 
harmlessly in the mud. One of the gunners after the 
fight said: "We were more bothered by flying mud 
than anything else. A shell bursting up there would 
throw out great clots of clay, that blocked up the 
touch-holes of our guns, spoiled the priming of our 
shells, and plastered up the faces of our men. Of 
course, now and then a bit of shell would knock some 
poor fellow over; but, though we were all green hands 
at war, we expected to see lots more blood and carnage 
than the Yankee gunboats dealt out to us." 

The gunboats, however, had put themselves in a hot 
place. Twenty heavy guns on the hillside high above 
were hurling solid shot down on the little fleet. The 
sailors stuck to their work well ; and though the vessels 
were in a fair way of being riddled, they succeeded in 
driving the enemy from his lower battery. But the 
upper battery was impregnable; and the gunners there, 
having got the correct range, were shooting with un- 
pleasant precision. Two of the vessels were disabled 
by being struck in the steering-chains. On the " Caron- 
delet " a piece burst, hurling its crew bleeding on the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 349 

deck. No vessel escaped with less than twenty wounds, 
while the flagship was hit fifty-nine times. Commodore 
Foote was wounded in the foot by a heavy spHnter; 
a wound from which he never fully recovered, and 
which for some years debarred him from service afloat. 

That afternoon's bombardment showed clearly that 
Fort Donelson could never be taken by the navy. 
When Foote ordered his gunboats to cease firing and 
drop back out of position, the Confederates swarmed 
back into the lower battery that they had abandoned; 
and, after a few hours' work, the fort was as strong 
as before the fight. 

The fort surrendered two days later because its close 
investment by the Union army made its subjection to 
starvation only a matter of brief time. 

Thus far the work of driving southward the Con- 
federate line of defence had proceeded with hardly a 
check. The next enterprise, however, went less 
smoothly. Some sixty miles below Cairo the rushing 
tawny current of the mighty Mississippi turns suddenly 
northward, sweeping back, apparently, toward its 
source, in a great bend eight or ten miles long. At 
the point where the swift current sweeps around the 
bend was then a low-lying island, about a mile long 
and half a mile wide. This is known as Island No. 10; 
and at the opening of the war it was supposed to hold 
the key to the navigation of the Mississippi River. 
Here the Confederates had thrown up powerful earth- 
works, the heavy guns in which effectually commanded 
the river, both up and down stream. The works were 
protected against a land bombardment by the fact that 
the only tenable bit of land. New Madrid, was held 
by Confederate troops. The Missouri shore is low 
and swampy. In 1 8 1 1 an earthquake-shock rent the 
land asunder. Great tracts were sunk beneath the 
water-level of the river. Trees were thrown down, 



350 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

and lie rotting in the black and miasmatic water. Other 
portions of the land were thrown up, rugged, and cov- 
ered with rank vegetation, making hills that serve only 
as places of refuge for water-moccasons and other 
noxious reptiles. Around this dreary waste of mud 
and water, the river rushes in an abrupt bend, making 
a peninsula ten miles long and three wide. Below 
this peninsula is New Madrid, a little village in the 
least settled part of Missouri; here the Confederates 
had established an army-post, and thrown up strong 
intrenchments. It was not, however, upon the intrench- 
ments that they relied, but rather upon the impassable 
morasses by which they were surrounded on every 
side. In New Madrid were posted five or six thousand 
men; a small fleet of Confederate gunboats lay in the 
stream off the village; and higher up the river was 
Island No. lo, with its frowning bastions and rows of 
heavy siege-guns, prepared to beat back all advances 
of the Union troops. 

In planning for the attack of this stronghold, the 
first difficulty found by Commodore Foote lay in the 
fact that his gunboats were above the batteries. In 
fighting down stream in that manner, the ships must 
be kept at long range: for, should a shot from the 
enemy injure the engine or boiler of a gunboat, the 
vessel is doomed; the rapid current will rush her down 
under the enemy's guns, and her capture is certain. But 
the peril of running the batteries so as to carry on 
the fight from below seemed too great to be ventured 
upon; and besides, even with Island No. lo passed, 
there would still be the batteries of New Madrid to 
cope with, and the gunboats of the Confederates to 
take the ships in the rear. So it was determined that 
the navy should begin a bombardment of the Con- 
federate works, while the army under General Pope 
should attend to New Madrid. Accordingly, on 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 351 

March 15, the whiz of a rifled shell from the flagship 
" Benton " announced to the Confederates that the 
North wanted the Mississippi opened for travel. 

In this engagement use was made for the first time 
of a new style of vessel known as mortar-boats, which 
in later conflicts on the rivers did great service. These 
boats were simple floats, heavily built, and calculated 
to stand the most terrible shocks. On the float was 
raised a sort of sheet-iron fort or wall, about five feet 
high; and in the centre stood one thirteen-inch mortar. 
The mortar is the earliest of all forms of cannon, and 
was in use in Europe in 1435. Its name is derived 
from its resemblance to an ordinary druggist's mortar. 
The great thirteen-inch mortars used in the Civil War 
weighed seventeen thousand pounds, and threw a shell 
thirteen inches in diameter. These shells were so 
heavy that it took two men to bring them up to the 
cannon's mouth. In the river-service, the mortar-boats 
were moored to the bank, and a derrick was set up 
in such a position that the shells could be hoisted up, 
and let fall into the yawning iron pot below. Foote 
had fourteen of these monsters pounding away at the 
Confederates, and the roar was deafening. 

A correspondent of the Chicago Times, who was 
with the fleet at the time of the bombardment, thus 
describes the manner of using these immense cannon: 
" The operation of firing the mortars, which was con- 
ducted when we were near by, is rather stunning. The 
charge is from fifteen to twenty-two pounds. The shell 
weighs two hundred and thirty pounds. For a familiar 
illustration, it is about the size of a large soup-plate. 
So your readers may imagine, when they sit down to 
dinner, the emotions they would experience if they 
happened to see a ball of iron of those dimensions com- 
ing toward them at the rate of a thousand miles a 
minute. The boat is moored alongside the shore, so 



352 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

as to withstand the shock firmly, and the men go ashore 
when the mortar is fired. A pull of the string does the 
work, and the whole vicinity is shaken with the con- 
cussion. The report is deafening, and the most en- 
thusiastic person gets enough of it with two or three 
discharges. There is no sound from the shell at this 
point of observation, and no indication to mark the 
course it is taking; but in a few seconds the attentive 
observer with a good glass will see the cloud of smoke 
that follows its explosion, and then the report comes 
back with a dull boom. If it has done execution, the 
enemy may be seen carrying off their killed and 
wounded." 

And so from mortar-boats and gunboats, the iron 
hail was poured upon the little island, but without effect. 
When Foote with his flotilla first opened fire, he thought 
that the Confederate works would be swept away in 
a day or two. His ordnance was the heaviest ever 
seen on the Mississippi, and in number his guns were 
enough to have battered down a mountain. But his 
days grew to weeks, and still the flag of the Confed- 
eracy floated above Island No. lo. General Beau- 
regard telegraphed to Richmond, that the Yankees had 
" thrown three thousand shells, and burned fifty tons 
of gunpowder," without injuring his batteries in the 
least. 

Some strange freaks are recorded of the shells. One 
fell on a cannon, around which eight or ten men were 
lying. The gun-carriage was blown to pieces, but not 
a man was hurt. Another fell full on the head of a 
man who was walking about distributing rations, and 
not so much as a button from his uniform was ever 
found. 

Meantime, the army had marched around Island No. 
lO, fallen upon New Madrid, and captured it. Then 
the situation seemed like a deadlock. The character 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 353 

of the country prevented any military attack on the 
island. Foote's bombardment was doing no serious 
damage, and that officer thought the batteries too 
strong for a dash past them by the fleet to be risked. 
Then the device was suggested of cutting a canal across 
the peninsula so that the transports and lighter vessels 
might be taken below the island without braving its 
fire. With incredible labor the project was accom- 
plished. A channel forty feet wide must be made. 
First gangs of men with axes and saws, working in 
three feet of water, went ahead, cutting down the 
rank vegetation. As fast as a little space was cleared, 
a small steamer went in, and with dredge and steam- 
capstan hauled out the obstructions. In some places 
the surveyed channel was so filled with driftwood, 
fallen trees, and tangled roots, that the labor of a thou- 
sand men for a day seemed to make no impression. 
When the canal was pretty well blocked out, the levee 
was cut; and the rush of the waters from the great 
river undermined trees, and piled up new obstacles for 
the steamers to tow away. Amid the foulest vapors 
the men worked, and more than a thousand were sent 
to the hospital with chills and fever, and rheumatism. 
The most venomous snakes lurked in the dark recesses 
of the swamp; on cypress-stumps or floating logs the 
deadly water-moccason lay stretched out, ready to bite 
without warning. Wherever there was a bit of dry 
ground, the workers were sure to hear the rattle of the 
rattlesnake. Sometimes whole nests of these reptiles 
would be uncovered. 

The work was continued day and night. When the 
failing daylight ceased to make its way through the 
thickly Intwined branches of trees and climbing vines, 
great torches would be lighted, and by their fitful glare 
the soldiers and sailors worked on in the water and 
mud. The light glared from the furnaces of the steam- 



354 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

ers, lighting up the half-naked forms of the stokers. 
Now and then some dry vine or tree would catch a 
spark from a torch, and in an instant would be trans- 
formed into a pillar of fire. After eight days of work 
the canal was finished. 

The work done, and such vessels as the canal would 
accommodate dispatched through it, Foote began 
preparations to run the batteries. First, he tried to 
cripple them as much as possible. A party of one 
hundred men was landed from boats under cover of 
darkness and began the work of spiking the guns. 
Quickly discovered, they were speedily driven off after 
doing slight damage. The next day the " Carondelet " 
was made ready to dash past the batteries at night to 
determine if the trip was practicable. 

All day the sailors on the " Carondelet " had been 
working busily, getting their vessel in trim for the trip. 
Heavy planks were laid along the deck, to ward off 
plunging shot. Chain cables were coiled about all 
weak points, cord-wood was piled around the boilers, 
and the pilot-house was wrapped round and about with 
heavy hawsers. On the side toward the battery was 
tied a large barge, piled high with cotton-bales. When 
the time for starting drew nigh, all lights were ex- 
tinguished. The guns were run in, and the ports 
closed. The sailors, heavily armed, were sent to their 
stations. Muskets, revolvers, and sabres were in the 
racks. Down in the boiler-room the stokers were 
throwing coal upon the roaring fires; and in the engine- 
room the engineer stood with his hand on the throttle, 
waiting for the signal to get under way. 

Towards eleven o'clock the time seemed propitious 
for starting. The storm was at its height, and the 
roll of the thunder would drown the beat of the steam- 
er's paddles. The word was given; and the " Caron- 
delet," with her two protecting barges, passed out of 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 355 

sight of the flotilla, and down towards the cannon 
of the enemy. For the first half-mile all went well. 
The vessel sped along silently and unseen. The men 
on the gun-deck, unable to see about, sat breathlessly, 
expecting that at any moment a cannon-ball might come 
crashing through the side into their midst. Suddenly 
from the towering smoke-stacks, burst out sheets of 
flame five feet high, caused by the burning soot inside, 
and lighting up the river all about. Quickly extin- 
guished, they quickly broke out again; and now from 
the camp of the alarmed enemy came the roll of the 
drum, and the ringing notes of the bugle sounding the 
alarm. A gunboat was bearing down on the works, 
and the Confederates sprang to their guns with a will. 
The men on the " Carondelet " knew what to expect, 
and soon it came. Five signal rockets rushed up into 
the sky, and in an instant thereafter came the roar of 
a great gun from one of the batteries. Then all joined 
in, and the din became terrible. With volley after 
volley the Confederates hurled cannon-balls, shells, mus- 
ket, and even pistol-bullets at the flying ship, that could 
only be seen an instant at a time by the fitful flashes 
of the lightning. On the " Carondelet " all was still 
as death. The men knew the deadly peril they were 
in, and realized how impossible it was for them to make 
any fight. In the black night, threading the crooked 
and ever-changing channel of the Mississippi River, 
it was impossible to go more than half-speed. In the 
bow men were stationed casting the lead, and calling 
out the soundings to the brave old Captain Hoel, who 
stood on the upper deck unprotected from the storm 
of bullets, and repeated the soundings to Captain 
Walker. So through the darkness, through the storm 
of shot and shell, the " Carondelet " kept on her way. 
Past the land-batteries, past the rows of cannon on 
the island, and past the formidable floating battery, she 



356 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

swept uninjured. Heavy and continuous as was the 
fire of the Confederates, it was mainly without aim. 
The hay-barge was hit three times, but not a scar was 
on the gunboat when she stopped before the water- 
front of New Madrid after twenty minutes' run through 
that dreadful fire. 

To eager listeners far up the river the measured 
boom of six great guns from the triumphant ship bore 
the news of success. It was the death-knell of the 
power of Island No. lo. 

The next night another gunboat came down, and 
the two set to work carrying the troops across the 
river, protecting artillerymen engaged in erecting bat- 
teries, and generally completing the investment of the 
island. In two days every loophole of escape for the 
Confederates is closed, — gunboats above and below 
them, batteries peering down from every bluff, and 
regiments of infantry, all prepared to move upon the 
works. They made one or two ineffectual but plucky 
attempts to ward off capture. One private soldier 
swam ashore, skulked past the Union pickets, and made 
his way to one of the Union mortar-boats. He suc- 
ceeded in getting to the mortar, and successfully spiked 
it, thus terminating its usefulness. A second Con- 
federate succeeded in reaching the deck of the mortar- 
boat, but while making his way across the deck tripped 
and fell. The rat-tail file he was carrying was driven 
into his side, making a wound from which he died in 
two hours. A third man, reckless of life, set out 
in a canoe to blow up a gunboat. He carried with 
him a fifty-pound keg of gunpowder, which he pro- 
posed to strap on the rudder-post of the vessel. He 
succeeded in getting under the stern of the vessel; but 
the gleam of his lighted match alarmed the sentry, 
who fired, hitting him in the shoulder. The Con- 
federate went overboard, and managed to get ashore; 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 357 

while his keg of powder, with the fuse lighted, went 
drifting down stream. Soon It exploded, throwing 
up an immense column of water, and showing that it 
would have sent the stoutest vessel to the bottom had 
It been properly placed. 

But such struggles as these could not long avert the 
Impending disaster. The Confederates were hemmed 
In on every side. It was true that they had a strong 
position, and could make a desperate resistance; but 
they were separated from their friends, and their final 
downfall was but a question of time. Appreciating 
this fact, they surrendered two days after the " Caron- 
delet " had passed the batteries; and Foote made his 
second step (this time one of sixty miles) toward the 
conquest of the Mississippi. 

To-day nothing remains of the once extensive island, 
save a small sandbank In the middle of the great river. 
The rushing current of the Father of Waters has done 
its work, and Island No. 10 is now a mere tradition. 



CHAPTER XXI 

The Expedition to Port Royal — The First Great Ironclad — How the 
" Merrimac " Changed Naval Architecture — Destruction of the 
" Congress " and the " Cumberland " — Timely Arrival of the 
" Monitor " — End of the " Merrimac." 

Before taking up in detail the story of the work of 
the navy on the Gulf Coast and the great rivers of the 
Mississippi River — the one place where the Confed- 
erates had at all an adequate force to cope with their 
assailants — the narrative of the events of the first two 
years of the war on the Atlantic seaboard may properly 
be concluded. 

Shortly after the capture of the Hatteras Forts, the 
navy, department saw the need of a harbor and base 
of naval operations farther south. Charleston, with 
its powerful defences, was deemed impregnable at that 
time; and elaborate descriptions of the Southern coast 
were prepared, setting forth the advantages and dis- 
advantages of available Southern ports. Port Royal 
is the general name given to a broad body of water 
formed by the confluence of the Broad and Beaufort 
Rivers, and opening into the Atlantic Ocean on the 
South Carolina coast, about midway between Charles- 
ton and Savannah. No more beautiful region is to be 
found in the world. Far enough south to escape the 
rigors of the Northern winters, and far enough north 
to be free from the enervating heat of the tropics; 
honeycombed by broad, salt-water lagoons, giving mois- 
ture and mildness to the air, — the country about Port 
Royal is like a great garden; and even to-day, ravaged 
though It was by the storms of war, it shows many 
traces of Its former beauty. It Is in this region that 

358 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 359 

are found the famous Sea Islands, on which grows 
cotton so much more fleecy and fine of fibre than the 
product of the interior, that it is known the world over 
as Sea Island cotton, and sells at the highest price in 
the markets of England. In '61 the islands bore the 
great hospitable manor-houses of the Southern planters; 
broad of rooms and wide of piazzas, and always open 
for the entertainment of travellers, were they friends 
or strangers. The planters living there were among 
the wealthiest in the South, at a time when all planters 
were wealthy. They numbered their slaves by thou- 
sands. Standing on the broad piazza of one of these 
Southern homes, one could see the rows of rough huts 
that made up the negro quarters, and hear faintly the 
sound of the banjo and rude negro melodies, mingling 
with the music of piano or harp within the parlor of 
the mansion-house. Refined by education and travel, 
the planters of the region about Port Royal made up 
a courtly society, until war burst upon them, and re- 
duced their estates to wildernesses, and themselves to 
beggary. 

It was late in October, 1861, when the final deter- 
mination to attack the forts at Port Royal was reached, 
and a fleet of fifty war-vessels and transports was gath- 
ered at Hampton Roads under command of Admiral 
Du Pont in the flagship " Wabash." The utmost se- 
crecy was maintained as to its destination, and when the 
fleet passed out between the Chesapeake capes October 
29th, only the admiral knew whither it was bound. 
The Confederates were better informed, and were 
strengthening their defensive works at Hilton Head in 
preparation for the attack. 

For the first day all went well. The promise of fair 
weather given by the beautiful day of starting seemed 
about to be fulfilled. But on the second night, as 
they came near the terrible region of Cape Hatteras, 



36o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the wind began to freshen, and continued increasing 
in fierceness until it fairly blew a gale. The night 
was pitchy dark, and the crews on the vessels could 
hardly see the craft by which they were surrounded. 
Great as was the danger of being cast on the treach- 
erous shoals of Hatteras, the peril of instant destruc- 
tion by collision was even more imminent. Fifty ves- 
sels, heavily freighted with human lives, were pitching 
and tossing within a few rods of each other, and within 
a few miles of a lee shore. It seemed that the destruc- 
tion of a large number of the vessels was unavoidable; 
and the sailors may be pardoned, if, remembering the 
mishaps of the Burnside expedition, they conceived Hat- 
teras to be tenanted by an evil spirit, determined to 
prevent the invasion of Confederate territory. To add 
to the danger, the Confederates had extinguished the 
warning light at the C-ape, and the navigators of the 
fleet had nothing to guide them in their course. When 
morning came, the fleet was pretty well scattered, al- 
though still many vessels were near enough together 
to be in no small danger. The transport " Winfield 
Scott," which carried four hundred and fifty soldiers, 
besides a large crew, was observed to be rolling heavily, 
and flying signals of distress. From the decks of the 
" Bienville," the nearest steamer, the officers with their 
glasses could see the crew of the distressed vessel work- 
ing like beavers, throwing overboard everything of 
weight to lighten the ship. Notwithstanding all their 
efforts, she was clearly water-logged, and sunk so low 
in the water that wave after wave broke over her 
decks, every now and then sweeping a man away to 
sure death in the raging sea. It seemed folly to at- 
tempt to launch lifeboats in such a furious sea, but the 
captain of the " Bienville " determined to make the 
attempt to save the men on the doomed " Winfield 
Scott." The crew was piped to quarters, and the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 361 

captain asked for volunteers to go to the rescue. Man 
after man stepped forward, until enough had been se- 
cured to man three boats with ten men each. Care- 
fully the boats were dropped into the sea, and man 
after man swung into them; then they put off and 
started for the sinking ship. But while these prepara- 
tions were being made, the two ships had been drifting 
closer and closer together. Soon it was seen that a 
collision was inevitable. Fortunately the boats were 
broadside on, so that the cutting effect of a blow from 
the bow was avoided. They were presently so near 
each other that the men began jumping from the deck 
of the " Winfield Scott " upon that of the " Bienville." 
The leap, though a perilous one, was made in safety 
by over thirty men. Suddenly a great wave lifted 
the ships up and dashed them together. Three poor 
wretches, just about to jump, were caught between the 
vessels and crushed to death. A few sharp cries of 
agony, and all was over; and the vessels, drifting apart, 
let their bodies, crushed beyond recognition, fall into 
the water. By this time the small boats, with their 
determined crews on board, had succeeded in getting 
around to the lee side of the sinking ship, and the 
work of getting the soldiers and sailors over the side 
was begun. By the most strenuous efforts all were 
saved, and the " Bienville " steamed away, leaving the 
" Winfield Scott " to her fate. 

It was on Monday morning, November 4, that the 
flagship *' Wabash " cast anchor off Port Royal. In 
the offing were a few more sail headed for the same 
point, and during the day some twenty-five vessels of 
the scattered squadron came up. For the next day 
ships were constantly arriving, and by Tuesday night 
the whole squadron lay safely anchored in the broad 
harbor. 

The defences which the Confederates had erected 



362 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

upon Hilton Head, a lofty bluff overlooking the har- 
bor, were powerfully designed earthworks, poorly 
armed and manned. The forts were two in number, 
placed on a commanding elevation, and might have 
been made impregnable had the Confederates taken 
advantage of the warning sent them by their spies in 
Washington. Fort Walker had fourteen guns which 
could bear on an attacking fleet, and Fort Beauregard 
had twenty. When the fight began, the gunners found 
that most of their ammunition was either too large 
or too small for the guns. 

Thursday morning dawned bright and mild as a 
morning in June. The shores of the beautiful bay 
were covered with woods, out of which rung the clear 
notes of Southern song-birds. The scene from the 
ships was one of the most charming imaginable. The 
placid bay, the luxuriant shores, the ocean showing 
across the low-lying ridge of white sand, the forts 
frowning from the steep headland, the fleet of ma- 
jestic frigates mustered for the attack, and in the dis- 
tance the flotilla of defenceless transports, safely out 
of range, their decks and rigging crowded with fifteen 
thousand men — all this presented a panorama of life 
and beauty which few eyes have ever beheld. 

Du Pont, in the majestic " Wabash," moved down 
the bay, and, as he came in range of Fort Walker, 
sent a shell shrieking from a bow-gun, as signal that 
the action was begun. The old frigate moved on 
slowly, making play with the bow-guns until abreast 
of the fort, when with a crash she let fly her whole 
broadside. On she went for a few yards, then turning 
in a grand circle came back, giving the other broadside 
to the forts as she passed. The other ships fell in 
behind; and round and round before the forts the 
fiery circle revolved, spitting out fire and ponder- 
ous iron bolts, and making the peaceful shores of 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 363 

the bay tremble with the deep reverberations of the 

cannon. . 

The Confederates, for their part, went into the 
action with the utmost coolness. They had been as- 
sured that their position was impregnable, and had been 
cautioned to be deliberate and determined in their de- 
fence. For a time their artillery service was admirable. 
But soon they found certain discouraging features 
about the affair. Their guns were too light to have 
any effect on the fleet, and their powder was of such 
bad quality that many of their shots fell short. Two 
great guns dismounted themselves, seriously injuring 
the men who were handling them, and the very first 
broadside from the fleet dismounted several more. 
Then it was found that the shells for the great Parrott 
guns were too large, and that the shells from other 
cannon failed to explode, owing to defective fuses. 
Soon the fleet found a point of fire from which it 
could enfilade the forts, and thereafter a perfect hai 
of shell and grape-shot fell in the trenches. One shell 
disabled eleven men. A solid shot struck a gun 
thought to be perfectly protected, and hurled it, with 
the men serving it, over the parapet. Every twenty 
minutes a gun was dismounted in Fort Walker, and 
at the end of the conflict Fort Beauregard had but nine 
serviceable guns. 

For about four hours there was no cessation of hre 
on the part of the fleet. Round and round the circle 
the vessels steamed, giving one fort a broadside on 
the way up, and the other a broadside on the way 
down. The bombs rose from them in a majestic sweep 
through the air, and plunged into the fort, exploding 
with a roar equal to that of a cannon. One ship was 
commanded by Captain Drayton, who rained shot and 
shell mercilessly against the forts, although one of 
them was in command of his own brother. 



364 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

At half-past one Fort Walker was found untenable, 
and the work of abandoning it was begun. The evacua- 
tion was completed in great haste, many valuables were 
left behind, and not even the guns were spiked. Still 
the entire garrison escaped to mainland, although the 
Federals had three thousand troops who might have 
made them all prisoners. Not long thereafter. Fort 
Beauregard also yielded to fate, and the day was won 
by the Federals. 

Hilton Head was then converted Into a great base 
for the storage of naval supplies, and held by the Union 
forces until the end of the war. 

It will be remembered that when the navy-yard at 
Norfolk was burned and abandoned they set the torch 
to the frigate " Merrimac," a ship of thirty-five hun- 
dred tons, mounting forty guns. The flames did their 
work well. The vessel was burned to the edge of 
her copper sheathing and the hull then sank in the 
harbor. Months afterward Lieutenant George M. 
Brooke of the Confederate navy conceived the idea of 
raising the wreck and converting it into an iron-clad 
— the first practical one of which history bears record. 
His plans were immediately accepted and the work 
pushed to completion. 

When the hulk had been raised and placed in the 
dry-dock, the first thing done was to cut it down to 
the level of the berth-deck; that is, to the level of the 
deck below the gun-deck in the old rig. Then both 
ends of the ship were decked over for a distance of 
seventy feet; while the midship section was covered by 
a sort of roof, or pent-house, one hundred and seventy 
feet long, and extending about seven feet above the 
gun-deck. This roof was of pitch pine and oak, twen- 
ty-four inches thick, and covered with iron plates two 
inches thick. The upper part of the roof, being flat, 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 365 

was railed in, making a kind of promenade deck. In 
the great chamber formed by this roof were mounted 
ten guns, two of which, the bow and stern guns, were 
seven-inch rifles, and fairly powerful guns for those 
days. A strange feature of this ship, and one that 
was not discovered until she was launched, was that 
the weight of the iron-plating and the heavy guns she 
carried sunk her so deep in the water that the low 
deck forward and aft of the gun-room was always 
under water; so much so that the commander of an- 
other ship in the Confederate navy writes that he was 
obliged always to give the " Merrimac " a wide berth, 
lest he should run his ship on some part of the ram 
which lay unseen beneath the surface of the water. 
She had no longer the appearance of a ship, but seemed 
like a house afloat; the tradition says that the old salt 
on the " Cumberland," who first sighted her, reported 
gravely to the oflicer of the deck, " Quaker meetin'- 
house floating down the bay, sir." 

This curious vessel, destined to play her part in the 
most epoch-making naval duel of history was put under 
command of Captain Franklin Buchanan, a former 
United States navy oflficer to whom the Naval Academy 
at Annapolis owes its site and its early growth. Her 
crew were mainly landsmen, ill-disciplined and unused 
to war afloat, but still accustomed to handling great 
guns ashore. With faulty engines, a rudder and screw 
exposed to the enemy's fire, the novel craft set forth 
on what was intended to be a trial trip, but which 
ended in one of the bloodiest naval battles of the Civil 
War. Let one of her surviving foes, an officer on the 
" Congress," tell the story: 

One bell had struck some time, when the attention of the quarter- 
master on watch was drawn to an unusual appearance against the 
fringe of woods away over in the Norfolk Channel. After gazing 
intently some time, he approached the officer of the deck, and 



366 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

presenting him the glass said, " I believe that thing is a-comin' down 
at last, sir." 

Sure enough! There was a huge black roof, with a smokestack 
emerging from it, creeping down towards Sewall's Point. Three 
or four satellites, in the shape of small steamers and tugs, sur- 
rounded and preceded her. Owing to the intervening land, they 
could not be seen from Hampton Roads until some time after we 
had made them out ; but, when they did show themselves clear of 
the point, there was a great stir among the shipping. But they 
turned up into the James River channel instead of down towards 
the fort, approaching our anchorage with ominous silence and 
deliberation. 

The officers were by this time all gathered on the poop, looking 
at the strange craft, and hazarding all sorts of conjectures about 
her ; and when it was plain that she was coming to attack us, or 
to force the passage, we beat to quarters, the " Cumberland's " drum 
answering ours. 

By a little after four bells, or two o'clock, the strange monster 
was close enough for us to make out her plating and ports; and 
we tried her with a solid shot from one of our stern-guns, the 
projectile glancing off her forward casemate like a drop of water 
from a duck's back. This opened our eyes. Instantly she threw 
aside the screen from one of her forward ports, and answered us 
with grape, killing and wounding quite a number. She then 
passed us, receiving our broadside and giving one in return, at a 
distance of less than two hundred yards. Our shot had apparently 
no effect upon her, but the result of her broadside on our ship 
was simply terrible. One of her shells dismounted an eight-inch 
gun, and either killed or wounded every one of the gun's crew, 
while the slaughter at the other guns was fearful. There were 
comparatively few wounded, the fragments of the huge shells she 
threw killing outright as a general thing. Our clean and handsome 
gun-deck was in an instant changed into a slaughter-pen, with 
lopped-off legs and arms, and bleeding, blackened bodies, scattered 
about by the shells ; while blood and brains actually dripped from 
the beams. One poor fellow had his chest transfixed by a splinter 
of oak as thick as the wrist; but the shell-wounds were even 
worse. The quartermaster, who had first discovered the approach 
of the iron-clad, — an old man-of-war's man, named John Leroy, — 
was taken below with both legs off. The gallant fellow died in a 
few minutes, but cheered and exhorted the men to stand by the 
ship, almost with his last breath. The " Merrimac " had, in the 
mean time, passed up stream ; and our poor fellows, thinking she 
had had enough of it, and was for getting away, actually began to 
cheer. For many of them it was the last cheer they were ever to 
give. We soon saw what her object was; for standing up abreast 
of the bow of the " Cumberland," and putting her helm aport, she 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 367 

ran her ram right into that vessel. The gallant frigate kept up 
her splendid and deliberate, but ineffectual fire, until she filled and 
sank, which she did in a very few minutes. Seeing the fate of the 
" Cumberland," which sank in very deep water, we set our top- 
sails and jib, and slipped the chains, under a sharp fire from the 
gunboats, which killed and wounded many. With the help of the 
sails, and the tug " Zouave," the ship was now run on the flats 
which make off from Newport News Point. Here the vessel keeled 
over as the tide continued to fall, leaving us only two guns which 
could be fought, — those in the stern ports. Two large steam- 
frigates and a sailing-frigate, towed by tugs, had started up from 
Hampton Roads to our assistance. They all got aground before 
they had achieved half the distance; and it was fortunate that they 
did so, for they would probably have met the fate of the " Cumber- 
land," in which case the lives of the twelve or thirteen hundred 
men comprising their crews would have been uselessly jeopardized. 

After the " Merrimac " had sunk the " Cumberland," she came 
down the channel and attacked us again. Taking up a position 
about one hundred and fifty yards astern of us, she deliberately 
raked us with eighty-pounder shell ; while the steamers we had 
so long kept up the river, and those which had come out with the 
iron-clad from Norfolk, all concentrated the fire of their small rifled 
guns upon us. At this time we lost two officers, both elderly men. 
One was an acting master, who was killed on the quarter-deck by a 
small rifle-bolt which struck him between the shoulders, and went 
right through him. The other was our old coast pilot, who was 
mortally wounded by a fragment of shell. We kept up as strong a 
fire as we could from our two stern-guns; but the men were 
repeatedly swept away from them, and at last both pieces were 
disabled, one having the muzzle knocked off, and the other being 
dismounted. Rifles and carbines were also used by some of our 
people to try to pick off the " Merrimac's " crew when her ports 
were opened to fire, but of course the effect of the small-arms was 
not apparent to us. 

It is useless to attempt to describe the condition of our decks by 
this time. No one who has not seen it can appreciate the effect 
of such a fire in a confined space. Men were being killed and 
maimed every minute, those faring best whose duty kept them on 
the spar deck. Just before our stern-guns were disabled, there were 
repeated calls for powder from them, and, none appearing, I took 
a look on the berth-deck to learn the cause. After my eyes had 
become accustomed to the darkness, and the sharp smoke from 
burning oak, I saw that the line of cooks and wardroom servants 
stationed to pass full boxes had been raked by a shell, and the 
whole of them either killed or wounded, — a sufficient reason why 
there was a delay with the powder. (I may mention here that the 
officer who commanded our powder division was a brother of the 



368 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

captain of the " Merrimac") The shells searched the vessel every- 
where. A man previously wounded was killed in the cock-pit 
where he had been taken for surgical aid. The deck of the 
cock-pit had to be kept sluiced with water from the pumps, to 
extinguish the fire from the shells, although dreadfully wounded 
men were lying on this deck, and the water was icy cold ; but the 
shell-room hatch opened out of the cock-pit, and fire must be kept 
out of there at all hazards, or the whole of us would go into the 
air together. In the wardroom and steerage, the bulkheads were 
all knocked down by the shells, and by the axe-men making way 
for the hose, forming a scene of perfect ruin and desolation. 
Clothing, books, glass, china, photographs, chairs, bedding, and 
tables, were all mixed in one confusing heap. Some time before this, 
our commanding officer, a fine young man, had been instantly killed 
by a fragment of shell which struck him in the chest. His watch, 
and one of his shoulder-straps (the other being gone), were after- 
wards sent safely to his father, a veteran naval officer. 

We had now borne this fire for nearly an hour, and there was 
no prospect of assistance from any quarter, while we were being 
slaughtered without being able to return a shot. Seeing this, the 
officer who had succeeded to the command of the ship, upon con- 
sultation with our former captain (who was on board as a guest), 
ordered our flag to be struck. It is not a pleasant thing to have 
to strike your flag; but I did not see then, and do not see now, 
what else we were to do. 

Left alone by the foe which had turned its attention 
to the " Cumberland," the people of the " Congress " 
busied themselves in getting their wounded ashore. 
The dead were left to their noble funeral pyre, for 
the ship was by this time fast breaking into flame at 
every point. All night the wreck blazed, but at two 
o'clock the culmination of the spectacle occurred. *' The 
masts and rigging were still standing, apparently in- 
tact," wrote a survivor, " when a monstrous sheet of 
flame rose from the vessel to an immense height. The 
ship was rent in twain by the tremendous flash. Blaz- 
ing fragments seemed to fill the air; and, after a long 
interval, a deep, deafening report announced the ex- 
plosion of the ship's powder-magazine. When the 
blinding glare had subsided, I supposed that every 
vestige of the vessel would have disappeared; but ap- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 369 

parently all the force of the explosion had been up- 
ward. The rigging had vanished entirely, but the 
hull seemed hardly shattered; the only apparent change 
in It was that in two or three places several of the port- 
holes had been blown into one great gap." 

The " Merrimac " now slowly approached the 
" Cumberland " — her lack of speed due to faulty en- 
gines, was her weakest point. The men of the doomed 
United States frigate had seen the outcome of the 
first broadsides fired by the " Congress " and viewed 
the oncoming monster with natural apprehension, but 
with undaunted courage. For them was no chance of 
escape, for a dead calm lay upon the waters. At half- 
past two their heaviest guns opened on the enemy and 
officers, and men watched breathlessly the course of 
their shot, and cried aloud with rage, or groaned with 
despair, as they saw them fall harmlessly from the iron 
ship. Still they had no thought of surrender. The 
fire of the " Cumberland " was received silently by 
the " Merrimac," and she came straight on, her sharp 
prow cutting viciously through the water, and pointed 
straight for her victim. A second broadside, at point- 
blank range, had no effect on her. One solid shot 
was seen to strike her armored sides, and, glancing up- 
ward, fly high Into the air, as a baseball glances from 
the bat of the batsman; then, falling, it struck the 
roof of the pilot-house, and fell harmlessly into the 
sea. In another instant the Iron ram crashed Into 
the side of the " Cumberland," cutting through oaken 
timbers, decks, and cabins. At the same time all the 
guns that could be brought to bear on the Northern 
frigate were discharged; and shells crashed through 
her timbers, and exploded upon her decks, piling splin- 
ters, guns, gun-carriages, and men in one confused 
wreck. Had not the engines of the ram been reversed 
just before striking the frigate, her headway would 



370 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

have carried her clear to the opposite side of the 
doomed ship, and the " Cumberland," in sinking, 
would have carried her destroyer to the bottom with 
her. As it was, the " Merrimac," with a powerful 
wrench, drew out of the wreck she had made, loosen- 
ing her iron prow, and springing a serious leak in the 
operation. She drew off a short distance, paused to 
examine the work she had done, and then, as if satis- 
fied, started to complete the destruction of the " Con- 
gress." 

And well might the men of the " Merrimac " be 
satisfied with their hour's work. The " Cumberland " 
was a hopeless wreck, rapidly sinking. Her decks 
were blood-stained, and covered with dead men, and 
scattered arms and legs, torn off by the exploding 
shells. And yet her brave crew stuck to their guns, 
and fought with cool valor, and without a vestige of 
confusion. They had had but a few moments to pre- 
pare for action; and the long rows of clothes, drying 
in the rigging, told how peaceful had been their occu- 
pation before the " Merrimac " appeared upon the 
scene. Yet now that the storm of battle had burst, 
and its issue was clearly against them, these men stood 
to their guns, although they could feel the deck sinking 
beneath them. Every man was at his post; and even 
when the waters were pouring in on the gun-deck, the 
guns were loaded and fired. Indeed, the last shot was 
fired from a gun half buried in the waves. Then the 
grand old frigate settled to the bottom, carrying half 
her crew with her, but still flying the Stars and Stripes 
at the fore. 

The " Congress " and the " Cumberland " thus dis- 
posed of, the iron-clad turned at first toward the " Min- 
nesota." But that frigate was aground in water too 
shallow for the ram to approach, and the Confederates 
accordingly made their way back to Norfolk content 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 371 

with the day's doings. No fatal hurt had been sus- 
tained by any one on the " Merrimac," nor was the 
structure of the ckimsy vessel injured in any degree. 
The ram had been wrenched loose in withdrawing from 
the " Cumberland," and every bit of construction out- 
side the armored structure was swept away. But the 
vitals of the ship were as stout as ever, and by day- 
break the next morning she was again ready for the 
fray. 

It can easily be understood that the news of the 
engagement caused the most intense excitement through- 
out this country, and indeed throughout the whole 
world. In the South, all was rejoicing over this signal 
success of the Confederate ship. Bells were rung, 
and jubilees held, in all the Southern cities. An officer 
of the " Merrimac," who was dispatched post-haste to 
Richmond with reports of the engagement, was met 
at every station by excited crowds, who demanded that 
he tell the story of the fight over and over again. At 
last the starving people of the Confederacy saw the 
way clear for the sweeping away of the remorseless 
blockade. 

In the North, the excitement was that of fear. The 
people of seaboard cities imagined every moment the 
irresistible iron ship steaming into their harbors, and 
mowing down their buildings with her terrible shells. 
The Secretary of War said, at a hastily called cabinet 
meeting in Washington : " The ' Merrimac ' will change 
the whole character of the war: she will destroy every 
naval vessel; she will lay all the seaboard cities under 
contribution. Not unlikely we may have a shell or 
cannon-ball from one of her guns, in the White House, 
before we leave this room." 

That neither the joyous anticipations of the South 
nor the gloomy forebodings of the North were ful- 
filled was due to a succession of circumstances, so 



372 STORY, OF OUR NA.VX 

strangely apt, so phenomenally timely as to almost sug- 
gest a special intervention of Providence. For almost 
a year a Swedish inventor, John Ericsson, had been 
trying to interest the Navy Department in a novel type 
of war-vessel, but had been turned away with ridicule 
and contempt. The utmost concession he could obtain 
was an agreement that, if he would build his vessel 
at his own expense, the Government would man and 
test it. If it failed to stand the trial, he should be 
paid nothing. On these hard terms, Ericsson, with 
the financial aid of C. S. Bushnell of New Haven, 
Conn., built the first " Monitor." It was this curious 
vessel, unpaid for, as thoroughly private property as 
any steam yacht in New York harbor, that put an end 
to the " Merrimac's " depredations and revolutionized 
naval architecture. 

The monitor type of warship has long been familiar 
to residents of Atlantic seaports, though it has now 
been abandoned for the towering battleship. Yet a 
brief description of the first of the type will not be 
amiss. She was a strange-looking craft. All that 
was to be seen of her above water was a low deck 
about a foot above the water, bearing in the centre a 
large round iron turret pierced with two great port- 
holes. Besides the turret, the smooth surface of the 
deck was broken by two other elevations, — a small iron 
pilot-house forward, made of Iron plates about ten 
inches thick, and with iron gratings in front; aft of the 
turret was a low smoke-stack. Beneath the water-line 
this vessel had some strange features. The upper part 
of her hull, forming the deck, projected beyond her hull 
proper about four feet on every side. This projection 
was known as the " overhang," and was designed as a 
protection against rams. It was made of white oak 
and iron, and was impenetrable by any cannon of that 
day; although now, when steel rifled cannon are built 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 373 

that will send a ball through twenty inches of wrought 
iron, the original " Monitor " would be a very weak, 
vessel. 

The turret in this little vessel, which held the two 
guns that she mounted, was so arranged as to revolve on 
a central pivot, thus enabling the gunners to keep their 
guns continually pointed at the enemy, whatever might 
be the position of the vessel. 

How strange, how miraculous the coincidence that 
on the very night of the " Merrimac's " first victories 
this new and untried monster of war should have 
steamed into Hampton Roads! She had not been 
summoned — no news of the disaster had reached her 
officers. Their first knowledge of the heavy blow to 
the Union cause came from the sight of the blazing 
*' Congress " and the sunken " Cumberland." But 
that spectacle gave them a foretaste of the morrow, and 
they, like the men on the " Merrimac," spent the night 
making ready for battle. 

It was Sunday morning, and the sun rose in a cloud- 
less blue sky. A light breeze stirred the surface of 
the water, and played lazily with the long streaming 
pennants of the men-of-war. The batteries on both 
sides of the bay were crowded with men waiting for 
the great naval battle of the day. Up at Norfolk 
a gay holiday party was embarking on steam-tugs, to 
accompany the Confederate ship and witness the total 
destruction of the Union fleet. No thought of defeat 
ever entered the minds of the proud believers in the 
new iron-clad of the Confederacy. 

At the first sign of life on board the " Merrimac," 
the " Monitor " began her preparations for the battle. 
In fifteen minutes she was in battle trim. The iron 
hatches were closed, the dead-light covers put on, and 
obstructions removed from the main deck, so as to 
present a smooth surface only twenty-four inches above 



374 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the water, unbroken, save by the turret and pilot-house. 
In the pilot-house was Lieutenant Worden, who was to 
command the " Monitor " in this her first battle. 

Leisurely the " Merrimac " came down the bay, fol- 
lowed by her attendant tugs; and, as she came within 
range, she opened fire on the " Minnesota," which was 
still aground. The frigate responded with a mighty 
broadside, which, however, rattled off the mailed sides 
of the ram like so many peas. Clearly, everything de- 
pended upon the "Monitor"; and that little craft 
steamed boldly out from behind the " Minnesota," and 
sent two huge iron balls, weighing one hundred and 
seventy pounds each, against the side of the " Merri- 
mac." The shot produced no effect beyond showing 
the men of the " Merrimac " that they had met a foe- 
man worthy of their steel. The " Merrimac " slowed 
up her engines, as though to survey the strange an- 
tagonist thus braving her power. The " Monitor " 
soon came up, and a cautious fight began; each vessel 
sailing round the other, advancing, backing, making 
quick dashes here and there, like two pugilists sparring 
for an opening. The two shots of the " Monitor " 
would come banging one after the other against the 
" Merrimac's " armor, like the " one, two " of a skilled 
boxer. In this dancing battle the *' Monitor " had an 
enormous advantage, on account of her smaller size, 
greater speed, and the way in which she answered her 
helm. The " Merrimac " was like a huge hawk being 
chased and baited by a little sparrow. Her heavy 
broadsides found nothing to hit in the almost sub- 
merged hull of the " Monitor." When a ball struck 
the turret, it glanced off, unless striking fair In the 
centre, when it fell in fragments, doing no greater dam- 
age than to dent the iron plates, and sometimes knock- 
ing down the men at the guns inside. The first 
manoeuvre tried by the *' Merrimac " was to run down 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 375 

her little antagonist; and she did strike her with a force 
that dented the iron overhang of the " Monitor," and 
dashed the men in the " Merrimac " to the deck, with 
blood streaming from their nostrils. For a moment it 
seemed as though the " Monitor " must go under; but 
gradually the terrible ram glanced off, and the little 
vessel, righting, sent again her terrible two shots at 
her enemy. In the action of the day before, shot and 
shell had beaten against the sides of the ram so rapidly 
that one could not count the concussions. Now it was 
a series of tremendous blows about a minute apart; and, 
if the men had not been working away at their guns, 
they could have heard the oak timbers sphntering be- 
hind the iron-plating. At a critical moment in the fight 
the "Merrimac" ran aground; and the "Monitor" 
steamed around her several times, seeking for weak 
places in which to plant a shot. Once Worden dashed 
at his adversary's screw, hoping to disable it, but missed 
by perhaps two feet. Two shots from the " Monitor " 
struck the muzzles of two cannon protruding from the 
portholes of the " Merrimac," and broke them off, 
throwing huge splinters of iron among the gunners in- 
side. And so the battle continued until about noon : 
gun answered gun with thunderous reports, that echoed 
back from the batteries on shore in rolling reverbera- 
tions. The pleasure-seeking tugs from Norfolk had 
scuttled back again out of the way of the great cannon- 
balls that were skipping along the water in every direc- 
tion. Neither of the combatants had received any 
serious injury. On board the " Monitor " the only 
hurt was received by a gunner, who was leaning against 
the iron wall of the turret just as a shot struck out- 
side; he was carried below, disabled. But at last one 
lucky shot fired from one of the disabled guns of the 
" Merrimac" ended this gigantic contest; sending each 
contestant to her moorings, without an actual victory 



376 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

for either side. This shot struck full and fair against 
the gratings of the pilot-house, through which Lieu- 
tenant Worden was looking as he directed the course 
of his ship. The concussion knocked him senseless. 
Flakes of iron and powder were driven into his eyes 
and face, blinding him completely for the time. He 
fell back from the wheel, and the *' Monitor " was left 
for a moment without her guiding spirit. All was 
confusion J but in a few moments Worden recovered, 
and gave the order to sheer off. The *' Monitor " 
then drew away, while Worden was moved to the cabin, 
and the second officer sent to his station in the turret. 
Lying on a sofa in the cabin, his eyes bandaged, and 
the horror of life-long blindness upon him, Worden 
asked faintly, " Have I saved the ' Minnesota ' ? " — 
" Yes," answered the surgeon. *' Then," said he, " I 
die happy." 

While these scenes were transpiring on the " Moni- 
tor," the " Merrimac " lay quietly awaiting her return. 
The Confederate officers say that she waited an hour, 
and then, concluding that the " Monitor " had aban- 
doned the fight, withdrew to Norfolk. The Northern 
officers and historians say that the " Merrimac " was 
in full retreat when the decisive shot was fired. It is 
hard to decide, from such conflicting statements, to 
which side the victory belonged. Certain it is, that 
not a man on the " Merrimac " was injured, and that 
all damages she sustained in the fight were remedied 
before sunrise the next day. Later, as we shall see, 
she challenged the Union fleet to a new battle, without 
response. But with all these facts in view, it must be 
borne in mind that the purpose of the " Merrimac," 
that bright March Sunday, was to destroy the frigate 
"Minnesota": in that purpose she was foiled by the 
" Monitor," and to that extent at least the " Monitor " 
was the victor. 




S .1 






? i 

o 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 377 

Lieutenant Worden, after the fight, went directly to 
Washington. President Lincoln was at a cabinet meet- 
ing when he heard of Worden's arrival in the city, 
and hastily rising said, " Gentlemen, I must go to that 
fellow." Worden was lying on a sofa, his head 
swathed in bandages, when the President entered. 
" Mr. President," said he, " you do me great honor 
by this visit." — " Sir," replied Mr. Lincoln, while the 
tears ran down his cheeks, " I am the one who is hon- 
ored in this interview." 

It has long been a matter of controversy which ves- 
sel was the victor in this duel. Neither was seriously 
injured — ^the " Merrimac " even less so than in the 
battle of the day before. Captain Worden's injury 
was the most serious sustained on either ship. But 
the " Merrimac " had come out to destroy the " Minne- 
sota " and returned without accomplishing it. To that 
extent the day had gone against her. Yet the subse- 
quent attitude of the Confederate officers was not that 
of the vanquished. Repeatedly they challenged the 
" Monitor " to new battle, but to no avail. On the 
nth of April she steamed into the Roads, and ex- 
changed a few shots with the Union batteries at the 
rip-raps; but the " Monitor," and other Union vessels, 
remained below Fortress Monroe, in Chesapeake Bay, 
out of the reach of the Confederate vessel. Again, 
a few days later, the " Merrimac " went to Hampton 
Roads, and tried to lure the *' Monitor" to battle; but 
the challenge passed unanswered. It is probable that 
the Federal naval authorities did not care to imperil 
the only vessel that stood between them and destruc- 
tion, out of mere bravado. Had the " Monitor " come 
out, an attempt would have been made to carry her 
by boarding. The crew of the " Merrimac " were 
prepared for the attack; and four gunboats accom- 
panying her were crowded with men, divided into 



378 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

squads, each with its specified duty. Some were to try 
and wedge the turret, some were to cover the pilot- 
house and all the openings with tarpaulin, others were 
to try to throw shells and gunpowder down the smoke- 
stack. But all these preparations proved useless, as 
the ** Monitor " still remained quietly at her anchorage. 
On May 8 a third trip was made by the " Merrimac." 
When she came down the bay, she found the Union 
fleet, including the " Monitor," hard at work shelling 
the Confederate batteries at Sewall's Point. As she 
came towards them, they ceased their cannonade, and 
retired again to the shelter of Fortress Monroe. The 
" Merrimac " steamed up and down the Roads for 
some hours; and finally Commodore Tatnall, in deep 
disgust, gave the order, " Mr. Jones, fire a gun to 
windward, and take the ship back to her buoy." 

Back to Norfolk she went, never again to leave that 
harbor. On the 9th of May the officers of the " Merri- 
mac " noticed that the Confederate flag was no longer 
floating over the shore-batteries. A reconnoissance 
proved that the land forces had abandoned Norfolk, 
and it was necessary to get the ship away before the 
Union troops arrived and hemmed her in. Her pilots 
declared that if the ship was lightened they could take 
her up the James River; and accordingly all hands 
threw overboard ballast and trappings, until she was 
lightened three feet. Then the pilots claimed that 
with the prevalent wind they could not handle her. It 
was now useless to try to run her through the Union 
fleet, for the lightening process had exposed three feet 
of her unarmed hull to the fire of the enemy. It was 
accordingly determined that she should be destroyed. 
She was run ashore on Craney Island, and trains of 
powder laid all over her, and fired. Every gun was 
loaded, and the doors of the magazine were left open. 
Her crew then started on the march for the interior. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 379 

It v/as just in the gray of the morning that a rumbling 
of the earth was felt, followed by a shock that made 
all stagger. A column of smoke and flame shot into 
the air; huge cannon were hurled high above the tree- 
tops, discharging in mid-air. One shot fell in the 
woods some distance ahead of the marching crew, 
and all knew that it marked the end of the mighty 
" Merrimac." 



CHAPTER XXII 

Moving up the Mississippi — The Ram " Manassas " — Farragut's 
Expedition — Porter's Mortar-Boats — Passing the Forts — Capture 
of New Orleans. 

While Foote and his gunboats were doggedly opening 
the Father of Waters from the north, the greatest of 
all our American admirals was sturdily pushing north- 
ward from the great river's mouth. From the earliest 
days of the war the " Passes," as the several outlets 
of the river are called had been rigidly blockaded. The 
task was an easy one, for at that time, prior to the 
construction of the jetties, the channel was so narrow 
and tortuous that the chance of an outgoing vessel 
grounding was great enough even when she had not to 
elude the vigilance and the cannon-balls of an enemy. 
The people of New Orleans made many efforts to break 
this blockade, for, shut off from all foreign trade, the 
roar of commerce in their streets was stilled and grass 
grew on the once crowded levee. One plan narrowly 
failed of success. 

It was at four o'clock one October morning that the 
watch on the sloop-of-war " Richmond " suddenly saw 
a huge dark mass so close to the ship that it seemed 
fairly to have sprung from the water, and sweeping 
down rapidly. The alarm was quickly given, and the 
crew beat to quarters. Over the water from the other 
ships, now fully alarmed, came the roll of the drums 
beating the men to their guns. The dark object came 
on swiftly, and the word was passed from man to man, 
" It's a Confederate ram." And indeed it was the 
ram " Manassas," which the Confederates had been 
hard at work building in the New Orleans ship-yards, 

380 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 381 

and on which they relied to drive the blockading squad- 
ron from the river. As she came rushing towards the 
" Richmond," two great lights higher up the river told 
of fire-rafts bearing down upon the fleet, and by the 
fitful glare three smaller gunboats were seen coming to 
the assistance of the " Manassas." Clearly the Con- 
federates were attacking in force. 

The first volley from the fleet rattled harmlessly 
from the iron-clad sides of the " Manassas"; and, not 
heeding it, she swept on and plunged into the side of 
the " Richmond." The great iron prow cut deep into 
the wooden sides of the Union vessel. Heavy oaken 
timbers were splintered like laths, and the men were 
violently hurled to the deck. As the ram drew away, 
the blue-jackets sprang to their guns and gave her a 
volley. Some of the shots must have penetrated her 
armor, for she became unmanageable. But the dark- 
ness prevented the ofiicers of the " Richmond " from 
seeing how much damage they had done, and they did 
not follow up their advantage. The strange panic 
that the sight of a ram so often brought upon sailors 
of the old school fell on the officers of this squadron, 
and they began hastily getting their ships out of the 
river. By this time four more Confederate steamers 
had come to the aid of the ram, and were cannonading 
the Northern fleet at long range. In their hurried at- 
tempt to escape, the " Richmond " and the " Vin- 
cennes " had run aground. The captain of the latter 
vessel, fearing capture, determined to fire his vessel 
and escape with his crew to the " Richmond." Accord- 
ingly he laid a slow-match to the magazine, lighted it, 
and then, wrapping his ship's colors about his waist in 
the most theatrical manner, abandoned his ship. But 
the plan was not altogether a success. As he left the 
ship, he was followed by a grizzled old sailor, who 
had seen too much fighting to believe in blowing up 



382 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

his own ship; and, when he saw the smoking slow- 
match, he hastily broke off the lighted end, and without 
saying a word threw It Into the water. No one ob- 
served the action, and the crew of the " VIncennes " 
watched mournfully for their good ship to go up In 
a cloud of smoke and flame. After they had watched 
nearly an hour, they concluded something was wrong, 
and returned to their old quarters. By this time the 
enemy had given up the conflict, and the United States 
navy was one ship ahead for the old sailor's act of in- 
subordination. The Confederate flotilla returned to 
New Orleans, and reported that they had driven the 
blockaders away. There was great rejoicing in the 
city : windows were illuminated, and receptions were 
tendered to the officers of the Confederate fleet. But, 
while the rejoicing was still going on, the Union ships 
came quietly back to their old position, and the great 
river was as securely closed as ever. 

The National Government, however, was not going 
to content itself with beggaring the trade of New Or- 
leans, and on the 2d of February, 1862 — the very day 
Grant struck at Fort Henry — Admiral David G. Far- 
ragut sailed in the " Hartford " from Hampton Roads 
to take charge of an expedition against the Crescent 
City. The place of rendezvous was Ship Island, a 
barren sandbar off the coast of Mississippi. The task 
before the admiral was no easy one. His greatest 
obstacle was the river itself — Its current was swift, its 
channel tortuous, Its mouth so obstructed by sandbars 
that all the ships had to be lightened to cross them, and 
one frigate, the " Colorado," could not pass at all. 
The entrance to the river proper, above the " Passes," 
was blocked by two great forts, St. Philip and Jackson, 
the latter named after the hero of the Battle of New 
Orleans. It was a huge star of stone and mortar. 
In its massive walls were great cavernous bomb-proofs 




ADMIRAL FARRAGUT 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 383 

in which the soldiers were secure from bursting shells. 
It stood back about a hundred yards from the levee, 
and its casemates just rose above the dike that keeps 
the Mississippi in its proper channel. When the river 
was high from the spring floods of the north, a steamer 
floating on its swift tide towered high above the bas- 
tions of the fort. In the casemates and on the para- 
pets were mounted seventy-five guns of all calibres. 
By its peculiar shape and situation on a jutting point 
of land, the fort was able to bring its guns to bear 
upon the river in three directions. 

When the storm of civil war burst upon the country, 
the Confederates of New Orleans were prompt to seize 
this and Fort St. Philip, that stood on the other side 
of the river. They found Fort Jackson in the state 
of general decay into which most army posts fall in 
times of peace, and they set at work at once to 
strengthen it. All over the parapet, bomb-proofs, and 
weak points bags of sand were piled five or six feet 
deep, making the strongest defence known in war. 
Steamers plied up and down the river, bringing provi- 
sion, ammunition, and new cannon, and soon the fort 
was ready to stand the most determined siege. Fort 
St. Philip, across the river, though not so imposing a 
military work, was more powerful. It was built of 
masonry, and heavily sodded over all points exposed 
to fire. It was more irregular in shape than Fort 
Jackson, and with its guns seemed to command every 
point on the river. Both were amply protected from 
storming by wide, deep moats always filled with 
water. 

With his fleet once over the bar Admiral Farragut 
found himself well established in the lower Mississippi, 
with a force of twenty-five men-of-war, and twenty 
mortar-schooners; one of the most powerful armadas 
ever dispatched against an enemy. He was one day 



384 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

visited by some French and English naval officers, who 
had carefully examined the defences of the Confed- 
erates, and came to warn him that to attack the forts 
with wooden vessels, such as made up his fleet, was 
sheer madness, and would only result in defeat. " You 
may be right," answered the brave old sailor, " but I 
was sent here to make the attempt. I came here to 
reduce or pass the forts, and to take New Orleans, 
and I shall try it on." The foreigners remarked that 
he was going to certain destruction, and politely with- 
drew. 

In the meantime, the tars on the mortar-fleet were 
working industriously to get their ships in fighting-trim. 
The top-masts were stripped of their sails, and lowered; 
the loose and standing rigging strapped to the masts; 
the spars, forebooms, and gaffs unshipped, and secured 
to the outside of the vessels to avert the danger from 
splinters, which, in naval actions, is often greater than 
from the shots themselves. From the main-deck every- 
thing was removed that could obstruct the easy handling 
of the tremendous mortars; and the men were drilled 
to skill and alertness in firing the huge engines of death. 
The work was hastened on the mortar-schooners, be- 
cause the plan was to rush them into position, and let 
them harass the Confederates with a steady bombard- 
ment, while the ships-of-war were preparing for their 
part in the coming fight. 

The mortar-fleet was under command of Admiral 
Porter, an able and energetic oflicer. He soon had his 
ships ready, and began moving them Into position along 
the banks of the river, out of sight of the forts. To 
further conceal them from the gunners in the forts, 
he had the masts and rigging wrapped with green foli- 
age; so that, lying against the dense thickets of willows 
that skirt that part of the river, they were invisible. 
Other boats that were in more exposed positions had 



FOR YOUNG AMERFCANS 385 

their hulls covered with grass and reeds, until they 
seemed a part of the swamp that bordered the river. 
After the line of fire had been obtained by a careful 
mathematical survey, Porter got all his mortar-boats 
into position, and began his bombardment. The gun- 
ners on the mortar-boats could not see the forts; but 
the range had been calculated for them, and they merely 
fired mechanically. A lookout, perched on the mast- 
head, could see over the low willow-forest, and watch 
the course of the shells as they rushed high into the 
air, and then, falling with a graceful curve, plunged 
into the forts. The firing was begun on the i6th of 
April, and was kept up with a will. The twenty huge 
mortars keeping up a constant fire, made a deafening 
roar that shook the earth, and could be heard far up the 
river at New Orleans, where the people poured out into 
the streets, and gaily predicted defeat for any enemy 
who should attack " the boys in the forts." The forts 
were not slow in returning the fire; but as the mortar- 
vessels were hidden, and did not offer very large marks, 
their fire was rather ineffective. Parties of Confed- 
erates, old swamp-hunters, and skilled riflemen, stole 
down through the dense thickets, to pick off the crews 
of the mortar-schooners. They managed to kill a few 
gunners in this way, but were soon driven away by 
the point-blank fire of the supporting gunboats. But 
all this time the shells were falling thick and fast, 
driving the soldiers to the bomb-proofs, and tearing 
to pieces everything unprotected. One shell set fire 
to some wooden structures that stood on the parade- 
ground in Fort Jackson; and, as the smoke and flames 
rose in the air, the gunners down the river thought 
that the fort was burning, and cheered and fired with 
renewed vigor. The shells that burst upon the levee 
soon cut great trenches in it, so that the mighty Mis- 
sissippi broke through with a rush, and flooded the 



386 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

country all about. But the forts seemed as strong and 
unconquered as ever. 

While the soldiers were crowded together in the 
bomb-proofs to escape the flying bits of shell, the sail- 
ors on the little fleet of Confederate vessels anchored 
above them were busily engaged in getting ready a 
fire-raft which was to float down the river, and make 
havoc among the vessels of the Union fleet. Two 
such rafts were prepared; one of which, an immense 
affair, carrying cords of blazing pine-wood, was sent 
down in the early morning at a time when the vessels 
were utterly unprepared to defend themselves. Luck- 
ily it grounded on a sandbar, and burned and crackled 
away harmlessly until it was consumed. This warned 
Commander Porter of the danger in which his mortar- 
vessels were of a second attack of the same nature; and 
accordingly he put in readiness one hundred and fifty 
small boats with picked crews, and well supplied with 
axes and grapnels, whose duty it was to grapple any 
future rafts, and tow them into a harmless position. 
They did not have long to wait. At sundown that 
night. Commander Porter reviewed his little squadron 
of row-boats as they lay drawn up in line along the low 
marshy shores of the mighty river. The sun sank 
a glowing red ball beneath the line at which the blue 
waters of the gulf and the blue arch of heaven seemed 
to meet. The long southern twilight gradually deep- 
ened into a black, moonless night. The cries of frogs 
and seabirds, and the little flashes of the fireflies, were 
silenced and blotted out by the incessant roar and flash 
of the tremendous mortars that kept up their deadly 
work. Suddenly in the distance the sky grows red 
and lurid. "The fort is burning I " cry the men at 
the guns; but from the masthead comes the response, 
" No, the fire is on the river. It is another fire-raft." 
The alarm was instantly given to all the vessels of 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 387 

the fleet. Bright colored signal-hghts blazed on the 
decks, and the dark, slender cordage stood out against 
the brilliant red and green fires that flickered strangely 
upon the dark wooded banks of the river. Rockets 
rushed high into the air, and, bursting, let fall a shower 
of party-colored lights that told the watchers far down 
the river that danger was to be expected. Then the 
signal-lights went out, and all was dark and silent save 
where the lurid glare of the great mass of fire could 
be seen floating in the great curves of the tortuous 
river toward the crowded ships. It was a time of 
intense suspense. The little flotilla of fire-boats, or- 
ganized by Commander Porter that day, was on the 
alert; and the blue-jackets bent to their oars with a 
will, and soon had their boats ranged along a bend 
far above the fleet. Here they waited to catch the 
fiery monster, and save the ships. The danger came 
nearer fast. Rapidly the flames increased in volume, 
until the whole surrounding region was lighted up by 
the glare; while from the floating fire, a huge black 
column of smoke arose, and blended with the clouds 
that glowed as though they themselves were on fire. 
When the raft came into view around a point, it was 
seen to be too big for the boats to handle unaided, 
and two gunboats slipped their cables, and started for 
the thing of terror. From every side the row-boats 
dashed at the raft. Some grappled it, and the sailors 
tugged lustily at their oars, seeking to drag the mass 
of flames toward the shore. Then the " Westfield," 
under full head of steam, dashed furiously against the 
raft, crashing in the timbers and sending great clouds 
of sparks flying high in the air. From her hose-pipes 
she poured floods of water on the crackling, roaring, 
blazing mass; while all the time, with her powerful 
engines, she was pushing it toward the shore. 

In the meantime, the sailors from the fleet of small 



388 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

boats were swarming upon the raft wherever they could 
find a foothold free from flame. Some carrying buck- 
ets dashed water upon the flames, some with axes cut 
loose flying timbers, and let them float harmlessly down 
the river. It was a fight in which all the men were 
on one side; but it was a grand sight, and was eagerly 
watched by those on the imperilled vessels. The im- 
mediate arena of the conflict was bright as day, but 
all around was gloom. At last the pluck and deter- 
mination of the men triumph over the flames. The 
raft, flaming, smouldering, broken, is towed out of the 
channel, and left to end its life in fitful flashes on a 
sandy point. 

Hardly had the gray dawn begun to appear, when 
the roll of the drums on the decks of the ships was 
heard; and, soon after, the roar of the opening gun 
was heard from one of the mortar-schooners. Again 
the bombardment was opened. The twenty boats in 
the mortar-fleet were divided into three divisions, each 
of which fired for two hours in succession, and then 
stopped for a time to allow the great cannon to cool. 
Thus a continuous bombardment was kept up, and 
the soldiers in the forts were given no time to repair 
the damages caused by the bursting shells. Every 
mortar was fired once in five minutes; so that one shell 
was hurled towards the fort about every minute, while 
sometimes three shells would be seen sweeping with 
majestic curves through the air at the same time. The 
shells weighed two hundred and fifteen pounds; and 
when they were hurled into the air by the explosion 
of twenty pounds of powder, the boat bearing the mor- 
tar was driven down into the water six or eight inches, 
and the light railings and woodwork of buildings at 
the Balize, thirty miles away, were shattered by the 
concussion. The shells rose high in the air, with an 
unearthly shriek, and after a curve of a mile and a 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 389 

half fell Into or near the forts, and, bursting, threw 
their deadly fragments in all directions. Day after 
day, and night after night, this went on. If the men 
on the mortar-schooners showed bravery and endurance 
in keeping up so exhausting a fire so steadily, what 
shall we say for the men in the forts who bore up 
against it so nobly? Before noon of the first day of 
the bombardment, the soldiers of Fort Jackson saw 
their barracks burned, with their clothing, bedding, and 
several days' rations. Shells were pouring in upon 
them from vessels that they could not see. The smooth- 
bore guns mounted in the embrasures would hardly 
send a shot to the nearest of the hostile gunboats. 
Then the river broke through its banks, and half the 
fort was transformed into a morass. An officer in 
Fort Jackson said, after the surrender, that in two 
hours over one hundred shells had fallen upon the 
parade-ground of that work, tearing it up terribly. 
For six days this terrible fire was endured; and during 
the latter half of the bombardment the water stood 
knee-deep on the gun-platforms, and the gunners 
worked at their guns until their shoes, soaked for days 
and days, fairly fell from their feet. For bed and 
bedding they had the wet earth, for rations raw meat 
and mouldy bread. If there were glory and victory 
for the Union sailors, let there at least be honor and 
credit granted the soldiers of the gray for the dogged 
courage with which they bore the terrible bombard- 
ment from Porter's flotilla. 

While the mortars were pounding away through 
those six long days and nights, Farragut was getting 
ready to take his ships past the forts. Union scouts 
and spies had travelled over every foot of land and 
water about the forts; and the exact strength of the 
Confederates, and the difficulties to be overcome, were 
clearly known to the Federal admiral. One of the 



390 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

chief obstructions was a chain of rafts and old hulks 
that stretched across the channel by which the fleet 
would be obliged to ascend the river. Under cover 
of a tremendous fire from all the mortars, two gun- 
boats were sent up to remove this obstruction. The 
night was dark and favorable to the enterprise, and 
the vessels reached the chain before they were dis- 
covered. Then, under a fierce cannonade from the 
forts, Lieutenant Caldwell put off in a row-boat from 
his vessel, boarded one of the hulks, and managed to 
break the chain. The string of hulks was quickly 
swept ashore by the swift current, and the channel was 
open for the ascent of the Union fleet. 

On the 23d of April, Farragut determined that his 
fleet should make the attempt to get past the forts 
the following day. He knew that the enemy must 
be exhausted with the terrible strain of Porter's bom- 
bardment, and he felt that the opportunity had arrived 
for him to make a successful dash for the upper river. 
The fleet was all prepared for a desperate struggle. 
Many of the captains had daubed the sides of their 
vessels with the river mud, that they might be less 
prominent marks for the Confederate gunners. The 
chain cables of all the vessels were colled about vul- 
nerable parts, or draped over the sides amidships to 
protect the boilers. Knowing that it was to be a night 
action, the gun-decks had been whitewashed; so that 
even by the dim, uncertain light of the battle lanterns, 
the gunners could see plainly all objects about them. 
Hammocks and nettings were stretched above the decks 
to catch flying splinters from the spars overhead. Late 
at night the admiral in his long-boat was pulled from 
ship to ship to view the preparations made, and see 
that each captain fully understood his orders. 

It was two o'clock on the morning of the 24th of 
April, when the Confederates on the parapets of their 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 391 

forts might have heard the shrill notes of fifes, the 
steady tramp of men, the sharp clicking of capstans, 
and the grating of chain cables passing through the 
hawse-holes on the ships below. Indeed, it is probable 
that these sounds were heard at the forts, and were 
understood, for the Confederates were on the alert 
when the ships came steaming up the river. 

They formed in a stately line of battle, headed by 
the " Cayuga." As they came up the stream, the gun- 
ners in the forts could see the mastheads over the low 
willow thickets that bordered the banks of the stream. 
The line of obstructions was reached and passed, and 
then the whole furious fire of both forts fell upon the 
advancing ships. Gallantly they kept on their way, 
firing thunderous broadsides from each side. And, 
while the ships were under the direct fire of the forts, 
the enemy's fleet came dashing down the river to dis- 
pute the way. This was more to the taste of Farra- 
gut and his boys in blue. They were tired of fighting 
stone walls. In the van of the Confederate squadron 
was the ram " Manassas," that had created such a 
panic among the blockading squadron a month before. 
She plunged desperately into the fight. The great 
frigate " Brooklyn " was a prominent vessel in the 
Union line, and at her the ram dashed. The bold 
hearts on the grand old frigate did not seek to avoid 
the conflict, and the two vessels rushed together. The 
ram struck the " Brooklyn" a glancing blow; and the 
shot from her one gun was returned by a hail of can- 
non-balls from the frigate's tremendous broadside, 
many of which broke through the iron plating. Noth- 
ing daunted, the ram backed off and rushed at the 
frigate again. This time she struck full on the frig- 
ate's side. The shock was terrible. Men on the 
gun-deck of the ram were hurled to the deck, with the 
blood streaming from their nostrils. The frigate 



392 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

keeled over farther and farther, until all thought that 
she would be borne beneath the water by the pressure 
of the ram. All the time the spiteful bow-gun of 
the iron monster was hurling its bolts into her hull. 
But the blow of the ram had done no damage, for she 
had struck one of the coils of chain that had been 
hung down the " Brooklyn's " side. The two vessels 
slowly swung apart; and, after a final broadside from 
the " Brooklyn," the " Manassas " drifted away in the 
pitchy darkness to seek for new adversaries. She was 
not long in finding one; for as the gray dawn was 
breaking she suddenly found herself under the very 
bows of the " Mississippi," which was bearing down 
upon her and seemed sure to run her down. The 
captain of the " Manassas " was an able steersman, 
and neatly dodged the blow; but in this quick move- 
ment he ran his vessel ashore, and she lay there under 
the guns of the " Mississippi," and unable to bring 
any of her own guns to bear. The captain of the 
frigate was not slow in taking advantage of this chance 
to be revenged for all the trouble she had given the 
Union fleet; and he took up a good position, and 
pounded away with his heavy guns at the iron monster. 
The heavy shots crashed through the iron plating and 
came plunging in the portholes, seeking every nook 
and cranny about the vessel. It was too much for 
men to stand, and the crew of the " Manassas " fled 
to the woods; while their vessel was soon set on fire 
with red-hot shots, and blew up with a tremendous 
report soon after. 

In the meantime, the ships of the Union fleet were 
doing daring work, and meeting a determined resist- 
ance. The flagship " Hartford " was met by a tug 
which pushed a huge burning fire-raft against her sides. 
There the flaming thing lay right up against the port- 
holes, the flames catching the tarred rigging, and run- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 393 

ning up the masts. Farragut walked his quarter-deck 
as coolly as though the ship was on parade. " Don't 
flinch from that fire, boys," he sang out, as the flames 
rushed in the portholes, and drove the men from their 
guns. " There's a hotter fire than that for those who 
don't do their duty. Give that rascally little tug a 
shot, and don't let her go off with a whole coat." But 
the tug did get away, after all; and no one can feel 
sorry that men plucky enough to take an unarmed tug 
into a terrible fight of frigates and iron-clads should 
escape with their lives. The men on the " Hartford " 
fought the flames with hose and buckets, and at last 
got rid of their dangerous neighbor. Then they saw 
a steamer crowded with men rushing toward the flag- 
ship without firing a shot, and evidently intending to 
board. Captain Broome, with a crew of marines, 
was working a bow-gun on the " Hartford." Care- 
fully he trained the huge piece upon the approaching 
steamer. He stepped back, stooped for a last glance 
along the sights, then with a quick pull of the lanyard 
the great gun went off with a roar, followed instantly 
by a louder explosion from the attacking steamer. 
When the smoke cleared away, all looked eagerly for 
the enemy; but she had vanished as if by magic. That 
single shot, striking her magazine, had blown her up 
with all on board. 

Much of the hardest fighting was done by the smaller 
vessels on either side. The little Confederate " cotton- 
clad " " Governor Moore " made a desperate fight, 
dashing through the Union fleet, taking and giving 
broadsides in every direction. The Union vessel 
" Varuna " also did daring work, and naturally these 
two ships met in desperate conflict. After exchanging 
broadsides, the " Governor Moore " rammed her ad- 
versary, and, while bearing down on her, received a 
severe raking fire from the " Varuna." The *' Gover- 



394 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

nor Moore " was in such a position that none of her 
guns could be brought to bear; but her captain sud- 
denly depressed the muzzle of his bow-gun, and sent 
a shot crashing through his own deck and side, and 
deep into the hull of the " Varuna," The vessels soon 
parted, but the " Varuna " had received her death- 
wound, and sank in shallow water. The " Governor 
Moore " kept on her way, but was knocked to pieces 
by the fire from the heavy guns of the frigates shortly 
after. 

And so the battle raged for five hours. To recount 
in full the deeds of valor done, would be to tell the 
story of each ship engaged, and would require volumes. 
Witnesses who saw the fight from the start were deeply 
impressed by the majesty of the scene. It was like a 
grand panorama. " From almost perfect silence, — 
the steamers moving through the water like phantom 
ships, — one incessant roar of heavy cannon commenced, 
the Confederate forts and gunboats opening together 
on the head of our line as it came within range. The 
Union vessels returned the fire as they came up, and 
soon the hundred and seventy guns of our fleet joined 
in the thunder which seemed to shake the very earth. 
A lurid glare was thrown over the scene by the burn- 
ing rafts; and, as the bombshells crossed each other 
and exploded in the air, it seemed as if a battle were 
taking place in the heavens as well as on the earth. 
It all ended as suddenly as it commenced." 

While this gigantic contest was going on in the river 
abreast of the forts, the people of New Orleans were 
thronging the streets, listening to the unceasing roar 
of the great guns, and discussing, with pale faces and 
anxious hearts, the outcome of the fight. " Farragut 
can never pass our forts. His wooden ships will be 
blown to pieces by their fire, or dashed into atoms 
by the ' Manassas,' " people said. But many listened 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 395 

in silence : they had husbands, sons, or brothers in that 
fearful fight, and who could tell that they would re- 
turn alive? By and by the firing ceased. Only an 
occasional shot broke the stillness of the morning. 
Then came the suspense. Had the fleet been beaten 
back, or was it above the forts, and even now sullenly 
steaming up to the city? Everybody rushed for the 
housetops to look to the southward, over the low land 
through which the Mississippi winds. An hour's wait- 
ing, and they see curls of smoke rising above the trees, 
then slender dark lines moving along above the tree- 
tops. "Are they our ships?" every one cries; and 
no one answers until the dark lines are seen to be crossed 
by others at right angles. They are masts with yard- 
arms, masts of sea-going vessels, the masts of the in- 
vader's fleet. A cry of grief, of fear, of rage, goes 
up from the housetops. " To the levee ! " cry the men, 
and soon the streets resound with the rush of many feet 
toward the river. " The river is crooked, and its cur- 
rent swift. It will be hours before the Yankees can 
arrive: let us burn, destroy, that they may find no 
booty." Let one who was in the sorrowful city that 
terrible April day tell the story: 

I went to the river-side. There, until far into the night, I saw 
hundreds of drays carrying cotton out of the presses and yards to 
the wharves, where it was fired. The glare of those sinuous miles 
of flame set men and women weeping and wailing thirty miles 
away, on the farther shore of Lake Pontchartrain. But the next 
day was the day of terrors. During the night, fear, wrath, and 
sense of betrayal, had run through the people as the fire had run 
through the cotton. You have seen, perhaps, a family fleeing, with 
lamentations and wringing of hands, out of a burning house ; 
multiply it by thousands upon thousands : that was New Orleans, 
though the houses were not burning. The firemen were out ; but 
they cast fire on the waters, putting the torch to the empty ships 
and cutting them loose to float down the river. 

Whoever could go was going. The great mass that had no 
place to go to, or means to go with, was beside itself. " Betrayed ! 
betrayed ! " it cried, and ran in throngs from street to street, seeking 



396 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

some vent, some victim for its virrath. I saw a crowd catch a poor 
fellow at the corner of Magazine and Common Streets, whose 
crime was that he looked like a stranger and might be a spy. He 
was the palest living man I ever saw. They swung him to a 
neighboring lamp-post ; but the Foreign Legion was patrolling the 
town in strong squads, and one of its lieutenants, all green and 
gold, leaped with drawn sword, cut the rope, and saved the man. 
This was one occurrence; there were many like it. I stood in 
the rear door of our store. Canal Street, soon after re-opening it. 
The junior of the firm was within. I called him to look toward 
the river. The masts of the cutter " Washington " were slowly 
tipping, declining, sinking — down she went. The gunboat moored 
next her began to smoke all over and then to blaze. My employers 
lifted up their heels and left the city, left their goods and their 
affairs in the hands of one mere lad — no stranger would have 
thought I had reached fourteen — and one big German porter. I 
closed the doors, sent the porter to his place in the Foreign Legion, 
and ran to the levee to see the sights. 

What a gathering! — the riff-raff of the wharves, the town, the 
gutters. Such women! such wrecks of women! and all the juvenile 
rag-tag. The lower steamboat-landing, well covered with sugar, 
rice, and molasses, was being rifled. The men smashed ; the women 
scooped up the smashings. The river was overflowing the top of 
the levee. A rain-storm began to threaten. " Are the Yankee 
ships in sight?" I asked of an idler. He pointed out the tops 
of their naked masts as they showed up across the huge bend of 
the river. They were engaging the batteries at Camp Chalmette, the 
old field of Jackson's renown. Presently that was over. Ah, me ! 
I see them now as they come slowly round Slaughterhouse Point, 
into full view ; silent, so grim and terrible, black with men, heavy 
with deadly portent, the long banished Stars and Stripes flying 
against the frowning sky. Oh for the " Mississippi," the " Missis- 
sippi ! " Just then she came down upon them. But how? Drifting 
helplessly, a mass of flames. 

The crowds on the levee howled and screamed with rage. The 
swarming decks answered never a word ; but one old tar on the 
" Hartford," standing with lanyard in hand, beside a great pivot- 
gun, so plain to view that you could see him smile, silently patted its 
big black breech and blandly grinned. 

As the masts of the fleet came up the river, a young 
man stepped out upon the roof of the City Hall, and 
swiftly hoisted the flag of the State of Louisiana. 
iWhen the ships came up, two ofl^cers were sent ashore 
to demand the surrender of the city; and shoulder to 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 397 

shoulder the two old sailors marched through a howl- 
ing, cursing mob to the City Hall. The mayor re- 
fused to surrender the city, saying that Farragut al- 
ready had captured it. The officers went back to their 
ships, and the flag still floated. Two days later the 
officers, with a hundred sailors and marines, returned 
and demanded that the flag be hauled down. No one 
in the city would tear it down, and the Federals went 
up to the roof to lower it themselves. The street and 
surrounding housetops were crowded with a hostile peo- 
ple, all armed. No one could tell that the fall of 
the flag would not be followed by a volley from the 
undisciplined populace. The marines in front of the 
building stood grouped about two loaded howitzers that 
bore upon the darkly muttering crowd. Violence was 
in the air. As the two officers rose to go to the roof, 
the mayor, a young Creole, left the room and descended 
the stairs. Quietly he stepped out into the street, and 
without a word stood before one of the howitzers, his 
arms folded, eying the gunner, who stood with lan- 
yard in hand, ready to fire at the word of command. 
Th^ flag fell slowly from the staff. Not a sound arose 
from the crowd. All were watching the mayor, who 
stood coldly looking on death. The Federal officers 
came down carrying the flag. A few sharp commands, 
and the marines tramped away down the street, with 
the howitzers clanking behind them. The crowd 
cheered for Mayor Monroe and dispersed, and New 
Orleans became again a city of the United States. 



CHAPTER XXIII 

Surrender of Forts St. Philip and Jackson — The Navy at Port 
Hudson — On the Yazoo River — The Ram " Arkansas " — The 
"Webfooted Gunboats" — In the Bayous — Rescued by the 
Army — Commodore Porter's Joke — Running the Batteries. 

When the Confederate flag had been hauled down at 
New Orleans under the guns of Farragut's fleet, Porter 
with his mortar-boats and a gunboat or two was still 
beleaguering the forts at the mouth of the Mississippi. 
The Union fleet had not silenced or captured these 
works, but had merely run past them. So Porter took 
up again the work of bombardment and pushed it with 
such vigor that on the 28th of April the Confederate 
commander announced his willingness to surrender. On 
the following day Porter proceeded upstream with his 
squadron, and anchored off the fort. A boat, manned 
by six trim sailors in dress uniforms, put off, and soon 
returned, bringing the commander of the defeated 
forces and two or three officers. They were received 
on the " Harriet Lane," and Commodore Porter had 
made great preparations for the meeting. The crews 
of all the vessels were dressed in snow-white mustering- 
suits, and the officers in brass-buttoned blue coats and 
white trousers. The decks were scrubbed, and all 
traces of the fight cleared away. As the Confederate 
officers came up to the fleet, one of them, a former 
lieutenant in the Union navy, said, " Look at the 
old navy. I feel proud when I see them. There are 
no half-breeds there : they are the simon-pure." As 
the Confederates came over the side. Porter stood, with 
his officers, ready to receive them. The greatest polite- 
ness was observed on either side; and Porter writes: 

398 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 399 

" Their bearing was that of men who had gained a 
victory, instead of undergoing defeat." While the 
papers of capitulation were being signed, a message 
came from the deck that the huge Confederate iron- 
clad " Louisiana " wa^ drifting down upon them, a 
mass of flames, and there was great danger that she 
would blow up in the midst of the Union fleet. " This 
is sharp practice, gentlemen," said Porter, ** and some 
of us will perhaps be blown up; but I know what to 
do. If you can stand what is coming, we can; but 
I will make it lively for those people if anybody in 
the flotilla is injured." 

" I told Lieutenant Wainwright to hail the steamer 
next him," writes Captain Porter, " and tell her cap- 
tain to pass the word for the others to veer out all 
their riding-chains to the bitter end, and stand by to 
sheer clear of the burning iron-clad as she drifted 
down. I then sat down to the table, and said, * Gentle- 
men, we will proceed to sign the capitulation.' I 
handed the paper to General Duncan, and looked at 
the Confederate officers to see how they would behave 
under the circumstances of a great iron-clad dropping 
down on them, all in flames, with twenty thousand 
pounds of powder in her magazines. For myself, I 
hoped the fire would not reach the powder until the 
ship had drifted some distance below us. My greatest 
fear was that she would run foul of some of the 
steamers. 

" While I was thinking this over, the officers 
were sitting as coolly as if at tea-table among their 
friends. 

" Just then there was a stir on deck, a kind of sway- 
ing of the vessel to and fro, a rumbling in the air, then 
an explosion which seemed to shake the heavens. The 
' Harriet Lane ' was thrown two streaks over, and 
everything in the cabin was jostled from side to side; 



400 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

but not a man left his seat, or showed any intention 
of doing so. 

" I was glad that I had signed before the explosion 
took place, as I would not have liked to have my auto- 
graph look shaky." 

With Union garrisons In charge of both forts the 
great river was open from New Orleans to the gulf, 
and Porter made haste to join Farragut In New Or- 
leans. Arrived there he found the indomitable ad- 
miral had already gone up river to clear away the 
batteries between that point and Vicksburg. This was 
no light task, and indeed proved beyond the ability 
of the navy to perform without aid. The little field 
batteries along the shore were readily silenced or driven 
away, but speedily returned or sought another post. 
But the hard nut the navy had to crack was the Con- 
federate position at Port Hudson, Mississippi. These 
batteries were perched on a high bluff that overlooks 
one of those abrupt curves around which the current 
of the Mississippi River sweeps with such terrific force. 
The heavy guns bore down upon a point at which the 
ships would almost inevitably be swept out of their 
course by the swift stream, and where the river was 
filled with treacherous shifting shoals. Naval officers 
all agreed that to pass those batteries was a more diffi- 
cult task than had been the passage of the forts below 
New Orleans; yet Farragut, eager to get at the strong- 
hold of the foe In Vicksburg, determined to make the 
attempt. The mortar-vessels were stationed below to 
drive the enemy from his guns with well-directed 
bombs; while the fleet, led by the stanch old "Hart- 
ford," should make a bold dash up the river. 

Night fell upon the scene; and the ships weighed 
anchor, and started upon their perilous voyage. To 
the side of each man-of-war was bound a gunboat to 
tow the larger vessel out of danger in case of disaster. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 401 

Silently the long string of vessels swept upward to- 
wards the batteries; but, as the " Hartford " came into 
range, the watchful Confederates gave the alarm, and 
the nearest battery at once opened fire. Then from 
Porter's mortar-schooners far down the river came an 
answering roar; and, as ship after ship came up into 
range, she opened with shot and shell upon the works. 
On the dark river-banks great alarm fires were kindled, 
lighting up the water with a lurid glare, and making 
the ships clearly visible to the Confederate gunners. 
But soon the smoke of battle settled down over all; 
and gunners, whether on shore or on the ships, fired at 
random. The " Hartford " led the way, and picked 
out the course; and the other vessels followed carefully 
in her wake. In the mizzen-top of the flagship was 
stationed a cool old river pilot, who had guided many 
a huge river steamer, freighted with precious lives, 
through the mazy channels of the Mississippi. There, 
high above the battle-smoke, heedless of the grape- 
shot and bits of flying shell whistling around him, he 
stood at his post, calmly giving his orders through 
a speaking-tube that led to the wheel-room. Now and 
then the admiral on the deck below would call up, 
asking about the pilot's safety, and was always answered 
with a cheery hail. But though the " Hartford " went 
by the batteries, heedless of the storm and lead poured 
upon her, she found herself alone, when, after firing 
a last gun, she swept into the clear air and tranquil 
water out of range of the enemy's guns. The night 
wore on, and all on board were consumed with anxiety 
for the fate of the vessels that had dropped behind. 
The lookout in the tops reported that he could see far 
down the river a bright red light that could only be 
caused by a burning vessel. It proved to be the 
steamer " Mississippi," that had grounded under the 
guns of the batteries, and had been fired and aban- 



402 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

doned by her crew. But of this the admiral knew 
nothing; and when, after an hour or two, he heard 
the dull, heavy boom of an explosion, he went sadly 
to his cabin, fearing that the lives of many valiant 
sailors had been sacrificed. There was no way to 
communicate with the fleet below, and it was not until 
days afterward that the admiral learned how his fleet 
had been beaten back, by the heavy guns of the Con- 
federates and the swift current of the river. The 
" Richmond " grounded at a point within easy range of 
the batteries, and her crew fought desperately while 
shell after shell went crashing through her hull. They 
saw the other vessels of the fleet go drifting by help- 
less in the mighty current of the river, but they faltered 
not in their brave defence until they saw their ship a 
wreck and in flames. Then leaving their dead com- 
rades with the " Richmond " for a funeral pyre, they 
escaped to the shore, and threaded their way through 
miles of morasses and dense thickets until they came 
to the mortar-boats, where they found refuge and rest. 
And so that first attack on Port Hudson ended with 
Farragut above the batteries, and his ships below. It 
had only served to prove, that, safe in their heavy 
earthworks, the Confederates could defy any attack 
by ships alone. This fact was clear to the Union 
authorities, and they began massing troops about the 
hostile works. 

But the assaults of the troops proved equally in- 
effective. Harassed on the landward side, and sub- 
jected to constant bombardment from the river, the 
garrison of Port Hudson hung on gallantly. One of 
the Confederate soldiers said, some time after the war: 
*' One can get used to almost anything. After the 
first two or three days, we took the bombardment as 
part of the regular routine. Pieces of shell were con- 
tinually flying about, and it was the regular thing for 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 403; 

a bomb to drop down among us at intervals. I have 
seen them come down within fifty feet of a sentinel, 
and throw up a wagon-load of dirt, without his even 
turning his head. We had but few men hurt by the 
artillery-fire. I do not believe we averaged one man 
hit for every thousand pounds of metal thrown. I 
remember that one day I counted thirteen shells and 
bombs hurled at the spot where I was posted before 
we had a man hurt, and he was only slightly wounded." 
Naturally, such work as this could not drive the Con- 
federates from their trenches; and the fleet soon con- 
cluded to leave the army to capture Port Hudson, 
while the ships steamed on up the river toward Vicks- 
burg. The army kept up the siege for weeks, until 
the Confederates, hearing of the fall of Vicksburg, 
surrendered. 

Meantime, far up the Yazoo River, In Mississippi, 
the Confederates were building a powerful iron-clad 
ram, which it was fondly hoped would drive Farragut 
and Porter from the river and save Vicksburg. For 
a time it seemed as though their hopes were destined 
to be realized, but the ill-luck that attended the most 
powerful Confederate ships — the " Merrimac," the 
" Manassas," the " Albemarle," for example — over- 
took her and cut her career short. 

When at last the carpenters' clatter had ceased, and 
the ram, ready for action, lay in the little river, the 
crew were mustered on the deck, and told that the 
new boat had been built to clear the Union vessels from 
the Mississippi, and that purpose should be carried out. 
No white flag was to flutter from that flag-staff; and 
she should sink with all her crew before she would sur- 
render. Any sailor who feared to enter upon such a 
service might leave the ship at once. No one left; 
and the " Arkansas " started down the river to look 
for an enemy. She was not long in finding one. At 



404 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the mouth of the Yazoo floated three Union gunboats, 
—the " Carondelet," the " Tyler," and the " Queen of 
the West." As the ram came down into sight, her 
men heard the roll of the drums on the decks of the 
hostile vessels. The gunboats quickly opened fire, 
which was as promptly returned by the "Arkansas"; 
and, as she came swiftly rushing down the stream, 
the three vessels fled before her. The men on the 
ram were all new recruits, and made awkward work 
of the firing; but as she came to close quarters she 
sent her shells crashing into the Union ships, while the 
shot she received in return rattled harmlessly off her 
steel-mailed sides. The " Carondelet " was the first 
vessel to come to grief. She had hardly fired four 
shots when a heavy solid shot crashed through her side, 
and rattled against the most delicate part of the en- 
gine. She w^as helpless at once; and hardly had this 
damage been reported when a second shot came with a 
burst into an open port, killed five men, and broke 
its way out the other side. In ten minutes her decks 
were slippery with blood, and thick strewn with 
wounded and dead men. The current of the river 
drifted her upon a sandbar; and she lay there helplessly, 
now and again answering the galling fire of her foe 
with a feeble shot. Pouring in a last broadside, the 
*' Arkansas " steamed past her, and, disregarding the 
other two vessels, headed for Vicksburg, where she 
knew her aid was sorely needed. 

The news of her coming preceded her; and, when 
she came within sight of the steeples of the city, at 
least ten thousand people were watching her progress, 
and wondering whether she could pass by the Federal 
batteries and through the Federal fleet. The Federal 
fleet was all ready for her, and prepared such a gaunt- 
let for the " Arkansas " as had never been run by any 
vessel. As she came within range, every Union gun 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 405 

that could be brought to bear opened; and shot and 
shell rained from shore-batteries and marine guns upon 
the tough hide of the ram. As she sped by the vessels, 
they gave her their broadsides, and the effect was tre- 
mendous. As the huge iron balls struck the ship, she 
keeled far over; and to her crew inside, it seemed as 
though she was being lifted bodily out of the water. 
Not a shot broke through the armor; but the terrible 
concussions knocked men down, and made blood come 
pouring from their nostrils. For new men, her crew 
fought well and bravely; though two fell flat on their 
faces, afraid to lift their heads, lest they be taken off 
by a shell. 

When it was seen that the " Arkansas " was likely 
to pass through the lines unscathed, the Federals tried 
to blockade her way; but she deviated not an inch from 
her path. The vessel that stood before her had to 
move aside, or take the chances of a blow from her 
terrible iron beak. She came straight to the centre 
of the fleet before opening fire; and when her port- 
holes were opened, and the big guns peered out, they 
found plenty of targets. Her first volley knocked a 
gunboat to pieces; and in another minute she had 
crashed into the side of a Union ram, sending that un- 
lucky craft ashore for repairs. But the storm of solid 
shot was too much for her; and she was forced to seek 
shelter under the bluffs, where the heavy guns of the 
Confederate shore-batteries compelled the Union ships 
to keep a respectful distance. Here she lay for several 
weeks, beating off every assault of the Federals, and 
making a valuable addition to the defences of the city. 
But, in an evil hour, the Confederate authorities de- 
cided to send her down the river to recapture Baton 
Rouge. When her journey was but half completed 
she was pounced upon by several United States vessels, 
with the *' Essex " in the lead. Her engines breaking 



4o6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

down, she drifted upon a sand-bank; and the attacking 
ships pounded her at their leisure, until, with the fire 
bursting from her portholes, she was abandoned by her 
crew, and blazed away until her career was ended by 
the explosion of her magazine. She had given the 
Federal fleet some hard tussles, but beyond that had 
done nothing of the work the Confederates so fondly 
hoped of her. 

There now began for the fleet on the Mississippi, 
particularly the gunboats under Porter's command, a 
curious campaign in mud and water that led Lincoln 
to call them " webfooted gunboats," and earned them 
among the soldiers the title of mud-turtles. The coun- 
try about Vicksburg is cut up by little rivers and bayous, 
not often wide enough for two boats to pass, but deep 
enough to offer practicable pathways to the interior. 
Into these water-lanes the gunboats plunged, now to 
reduce some Confederate fort or the interior, again 
to destroy a Confederate ship-yard. Porter himself 
led the largest of the expeditions in the hopes of find- 
ing a way around the batteries at Vicksburg, and nar- 
rowly escaped leaving the bones of his boats in the 
forests into which he had taken them. 

An early expedition was one of three gunboats up 
the White River in search of a Confederate fort. 
Within twelve hours from the start, the sailors learned 
from a ragged negro, whom they captured on the shore, 
that the Confederates had powerful batteries only five 
miles farther up, and that the river channel was ob- 
structed by sunken vessels. Anchor was cast for the 
night; and in the morning the troops accompanying 
the expedition were landed, and plunged into the forest 
with the plan of taking the fort by a rush from the 
rear. The gunboats began a slow advance up the river, 
throwing shells into the woods ahead of them. The 
blue-jackets kept carefully under cover; for, though 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 407 

they could see no foe, yet the constant singing of rifle- 
bullets about the ships proved that somewhere in those 
bushes were concealed sharpshooters whose powder was 
good and whose aim was true. The " Mound City " 
was leading the gunboats, and had advanced within six 
hundred yards of the enemy's guns, when a single shot, 
fired from a masked battery high up the bluffs, rang 
out sharply amid the rattle of small arms. It was the 
first cannon-shot fired by the Confederates in that en- 
gagement, and it was probably the most horribly deadly 
shot fired in the war. It entered the port-casemate for- 
ward, killed three men standing at the gun, and plunged 
into the boiler. In an instant the scalding steam came 
hissing out, filling the ship from stem to stern, and 
horribly scalding every one upon the gun-deck. The 
deck was covered with writhing forms, and screams of 
agony rang out above the harsh noise of the escaping 
steam and the roar of battle outside. Many were 
blown overboard; more crawled out of the portholes, 
and dropped into the river to escape the scalding steam, 
and struggling in the water were killed by rifle-balls 
or the fragments of the shells that were bursting all 
around. The helpless gunboat turned round and round 
in the stream, and drifted away, carrying a crew of 
dead and dying men. So great was the horror of the 
scene, that one of the officers, himself unhurt, who saw 
his comrades thus tortured all about him, went insane. 
While this scene was going on before the fort, the 
Union troops had come up behind it, and with a cheer 
rushed over the breastworks, and drove the garrison 
to surrender. The Confederate banner fell from the 
staff, and the Stars and Stripes went up in its place. 
But how great was the price that the Federals had to 
pay for that victory ! That night, with muffled drums, 
and arms reversed, the blue-jackets carried to the grave 
fifty-nine of their comrades, who twelve hours before 



4o8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

were active men. With three volleys of musketry the 
simple rites over the sailors' graves were ended; and 
those who were left alive, only said with a sigh, " It 
is the fortune of war." 

Meanwhile Porter was putting to the test his favorite 
theory that the bayous and creeks would furnish a safe, 
if not an easy, route around Vicksburg. His men 
first cut the levees, and let the mighty tide of the Mis- 
sissippi sweep in, filling the bayous to the brim, and 
flooding all the country round about. Then the gun- 
boats plunged in, and were borne along on the rushing 
tide until they brought up, all standing, against the 
trunks of trees, or had their smoke-stacks caught by 
overhanging branches. 

Then came the tug of war; and the axemen were 
called to the front, and set to work. They chopped 
their way along for some distance; the rapid current 
from the river banging the vessels against the trees 
and stumps, until all the standing rigging and light 
cabins were swept away. After a good deal of work 
they saw before them a broad river, wide enough for 
two vessels to steam abreast. Soon they drifted out 
into it, and the commanding officer sang out cheerily, 
" On to Vicksburg, boys, and no more trees to saw." 
And so they steamed on, thinking how neatly they 
should take the " gray-coats " in the rear, when sud- 
denly a bend in the river showed them, just ahead, a 
fort in the middle of the river, with the channel blocked 
on either side. That was a surprise. The works were 
new, and the water was still muddy about the sunken 
steamers. Clearly the wily Pemberton, in command 
at Vicksburg, had heard of this inland naval expedi- 
tion, and was determined to check it effectually. 

The gunboats backed water, and crowded in con- 
fused groups. The gunners in the fort took hurried 
aim, and pulled the lanyards of their cannon, forgetting 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 409 

that those pieces were not loaded. It was hard to 
tell which party was the more excited at the unexpected 
meeting. This gave the blue-jackets a chance to collect 
their thoughts, and in a minute or two the gunboats 
opened fire; but they were soon convinced that the fort 
was too much for them, and they turned and crawled 
back through the woods to the fleet. 

But, even while this expedition was working its way 
back to the station of the vessels on the Mississippi, 
Porter was starting another through a second chain of 
water-courses that he had discovered. This time he 
was so sure of getting into the rear of Vicksburg, that 
he took four of his big iron-clads, and two light mortar- 
boats built especially for work in the woods. General 
Sherman with a strong army-force, marched overland, 
keeping up with the gunboats. Admiral Porter, in 
his Memoirs, gives a graphic picture of this expedition. 
Back of Vicksburg the country is low, and intersected 
in every direction by narrow, tortuous bayous, lined on 
either side by gloomy morasses or majestic forests. 
Into these little-known water-courses Porter boldly led 
his ponderous iron-clads; while Sherman, with a de- 
tachment of troops, advanced along the shore, keeping 
as near the flotilla as possible. Seldom have naval 
vessels been detailed upon so strange a service. For 
days they steamed on under the spreading branches of 
trees, that often spanned the bayous in a mighty arch 
overhead, shutting out all sunlight. For a time this 
navigation of placid, shady waterways was pleasant 
enough; but, as they penetrated farther into the in- 
terior, the jackies sighed for the blue waters of the 
ocean, or even for the turbid current of the Mississippi. 
The heavy foliage that gave so grateful a shade also 
harbored all sorts of animals; and coons, rats, mice, 
and wildcats, that had been driven to the trees for 
shelter during the prevailing high water, peered down 



4IO STORY OF OUR NAVY 

upon the sailors, and often dropped sociably down upon 
the decks of the vessels gliding beneath. 

At some portions of the voyage the flotilla seemed 
to be steaming through the primeval forest. The 
bayou was but a few feet wider than the gunboats, and 
its banks were lined by gnarled and knotted old vet- 
erans of the forest, — live oaks, sycamore, and tupelo 
gum trees that had stood in majestic dignity on the 
banks of the dark and sullen stream for centuries. 
Sometimes majestic vistas would open; broad avenues 
carpeted with velvet turf, and walled in by the massive 
tree trunks, extending from the banks of the stream 
far back into the country. Again, the stately forests 
would be replaced by fields of waving corn or rice, 
with the tops of a row of negro cabins or the columned 
front of a planter's house showing in the distance. 
Then, as the flotilla steamed on, this fair prospect 
would disappear, and be replaced by noisome cypress 
brakes, hung thick with the funereal Spanish moss, and 
harboring beneath the black water many a noxious 
reptile. 

So through the ever-changing scenery the gunboats 
moved along, making but little progress, but meeting 
with no serious obstacle, until one morning there ap- 
peared on a bit of high ground, some yards in advance 
of the leading gunboat, an army officer mounted on 
an old white horse. It was General Sherman, and his 
troops were in camp near by. He greeted the naval 
forces cheerily, and, rallying Porter on the amphibious 
service into which his gunboats had been forced, warned 
him that he would soon have not a smoke-stack stand- 
ing, nor a boat left at the davits. 

" So much the better," said the undaunted admiral. 
" All I want is an engine, guns, and a hull to float 
them. As to boats, they are very much in the way." 

Soon after leaving Sherman, Porter saw that the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 411 

difficulties he had thus far met and conquered were as 
nothing to those which he had yet to encounter. The 
comparatively broad stream up which he had been 
steaming came to an end, and his further progress must 
be through Cypress Bayou, a canal just forty-six feet 
wide. The broadest gunboat was forty-two feet wide, 
and to enter that narrow stream made retreat out of 
the question : there could be no turning round to fly. 
The levees rose on either side of the narrow canal high 
above the decks of the iron-clads, so that the cannon 
could not be sufficiently elevated to do effective work 
in case of an attack. But there were nine feet of 
water in the great ditch; and that was enough for 
Porter, who pressed boldly on. 

The country into which the combined military and 
naval expedition was advancing was in truth the gran- 
ary of Vicksburg. On all other sides of the belea- 
guered city, the Federal lines were drawn so closely 
that the wagons laden with farm produce could not 
hope to pass. But here, back of the city, and far from 
the camps of Grant's legions, the work of raising pro- 
duce for the gallant people of Vicksburg was prose- 
cuted with the most untiring vigor. The sight, then, 
of the advancing gunboats aroused the greatest con- 
sternation. From the deck of his vessel Porter could 
see the people striving to save their property from the 
advancing enemy. Great droves of cattle were being 
driven away far into the interior; negroes were skurry- 
ing in all directions, driving poultry and pigs to the 
safe concealment of the forest; wagons groaning under 
the weight of farm and garden produce could be seen 
disappearing in the distance. What the inhabitants 
could not save they destroyed, in order that it might 
not profit the invaders. A short distance from the 
mouth of the bayou were six thousand bales of cotton 
piled up on opposite sides of the stream, ready to be 



412 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

taken aboard a steamer when the war should end. As 
the gunboats advanced slowly, making little headway 
against the two-knot current of the bayou, Porter saw 
two men carrying lighted pine-knots, dash up to the 
cotton, and begin to set it afire. The admiral looked 
on in disgust. "'What fools these mortals be!'" 
said he to an officer standing at his side; "but I sup- 
pose those men have a right to burn their own cotton, 
especially as we have no way of preventing them." 

" I can send a howitzer shell at them, sir," said the 
officer, " and drive them away." 

But to this Porter demurred, saying that he had no 
desire to kill the men, and that they might do as they 
liked with their own. Accordingly the officers quietly 
watched the vandals, until, after twenty minutes' work, 
the cotton was blazing, and a dense mass of smoke 
cut off all vision ahead, and rose high in the air. Then 
Porter began to suspect that he had made a mistake. 
The difficulties of navigation in the bayou were great 
enough, without having smoke and fire added to them. 
Yet to wait for the cotton to burn up might cause a 
serious delay. On the high bank of the bayou stood 
a negro begging the sailors to take him aboard. 

" Hallo, there. Sambo ! " sung out Porter, " how 
long will it take this cotton to burn up? " 

"Two day, massa," responded the contraband; 
" p'raps tree." 

That ended the debate. " Ring the bell to go 
ahead fast," said the admiral to the pilot; and away 
went the flotilla at full speed, plunging into the smoke 
and fire. It was a hot experience for the sailors. The 
heavy iron-clads made but slow progress, and were 
scorched and blistered with the heat. The ports were 
all shut down, and the crews called to fire-quarters, 
buckets in hand. To remain on deck was impossible. 
Porter and his captain made the trial, but had hardly 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 413 

entered the smoke when the scorching heat drove both 
into the shelter of an iron-covered deck-house. The 
pilot standing at the wheel seized a flag, and, wrapping 
it about his face and body, was able to stay at his 
post. As the flames grew hotter, the sailors below 
opened the main hatch, and, thrusting up a hose, 
deluged the deck with floods of water. So, without 
a man in sight, the huge iron ship moved along between 
the walls of flame. Suddenly came an enormous crash. 
The gunboat shivered, and for a moment stood still; 
then, gathering headway, moved on again, though with 
much ominous grating beneath her keel. Soon after 
she passed out of the smoke and heat, and all hands 
rushed on deck for a whiff of the fresh, cool air. Their 
first thought was of the cause of the collision; and, 
looking eagerly astern, they saw a heavy bridge, about 
fifty feet of which had been demolished by the tremen- 
dous power of the ram. This gave Porter a hint as 
to the force he had at his command; and thereafter 
bridges were rammed as a matter of course whenever 
they impeded the progress of the iron-clads. The 
astonishment of the people along the shore may well 
be imagined. 

The great and formidable obstacles that stood in 
the path of the squadron were, as a rule, overcome by 
the exertion of the great powers of the steam-driven, 
iron-plated vessels; but at last there came a check, 
that, though it seemed at first insignificant, terminated 
the sylvan manoeuvres of the iron-clad navy. After 
running the gauntlet of the burning cotton, butting down 
trees, and smashing through bridges, the column en- 
tered a stretch of smooth water that seemed to promise 
fair and unobstructed sailing. But toward the end 
of this expanse of water a kind of green scum was 
evident, extending right across the bayou, from bank 
to bank. Porter's keen eye caught sight of this; and, 



414 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

turning to one of the negroes who had taken refuge 
on the gunboat, he asked what it was. " It's nuffin' 
but willows, sah," he replied. " When de water's out 
of de bayou, den we cuts de willows to make baskets 
with. You kin go troo dat like a eel." 

Satisfied with this explanation, the admiral ordered 
the tug which led the column to go ahead. Under a 
full head of steam, the tug dashed into the willows, 
but began to slow up, until, after going about thirty 
yards, she stopped, unable to go forward or back. 
Undaunted by this unexpected resistance. Porter cried 
out that the " Cincinnati " would push the tug along; 
and the heavy gunboat, withdrawing a short distance 
to gain headway, hurled herself forward, and dashed 
into the willows with a force that would have carried 
her through any bridge ever built. But the old fable 
of the lion bound down by the silken net was here 
re-enacted. The gunboat did not even reach the tug. 
The slender willow-shoots trailed along the sides, 
caught in the rough ends of the iron overhang, and 
held the vessel immovable. Abandoning the attempt 
to advance, the gunboat strove to back out, but to no 
avail. Then hooks were rigged over the side to break 
away the withes, and men slung in ropes alongside 
vigorously wielded sharp cutlasses and saws; but still 
the willows retained their grip. Matters were now 
getting serious; and, to add to Porter's perplexity, re- 
ports came in that Confederate troops were coming 
down upon him. Then he began to lose confidence in 
his iron-clads, and wish right heartily for Sherman and 
his soldiers, of whose whereabouts he could gain no 
knowledge. The enemy did not leave him long in 
doubts as to their intention, and soon began a vigorous 
fire of shells from the woods. Porter stopped that 
promptly by manning his mortars and firing a few 
shells at a range measured by the sound of the enemy's 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 415 

cannon. The immediate silence of the hostile batteries 
proved the accuracy of the admiral's calculations, and 
gave him time to devise means for escaping from his 
perilous position. 

How to do it without aid from Sherman's troops 
was a difficult question; and in his perplexity he ex- 
claimed aloud: "Why don't Sherman come on? I'd 
give ten dollars to get a telegram to him." The ad- 
miral was standing at the moment on the bank of the 
bayou, near a group of negroes; and an athletic-looking 
contraband stepped forward, and, announcing himself 
as a " telegram-wire," offered to carry the note " to 
kingdum kum for half a dollar." After sharply cross- 
questioning the volunteer. Porter wrote on a scrap of 
paper: "Dear Sherman, — Hurry up, for Heaven's 
sake. I never knew how helpless an Iron-clad could 
be, steaming around through the woods without an 
army to back her." 

" Where will you carry this? " asked Porter, handing 
the dispatch to the negro. 

" In my calabash kiver, massa," responded the mes- 
senger with a grin; and, stowing the paper away in 
his woolly hair, he darted away. 

The telegram being thus dispatched, Porter again 
turned his attention to the willows; and, a fortunate 
rise in the water having occurred, he was able to ex- 
tricate his vessels and begin his retreat down the bayou. 

The difficulties of the retreat were no less great 
than those of the advance, with the intermittent attacks 
of the enemy added. The work of removing heavy, 
soggy logs, half submerged beneath the black waters 
of the bayou, clearing away standing trees, and break- 
ing up and removing Red-river rafts, wearied the sail- 
ors, and left them little spirit to meet the enemy's 
attacks. The faint sounds of wood-chopping in the 
distance told too well of the additional impediments 



4i6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

yet in store for the adventurous mariners. Scouts sent 
out reported that the enemy had impressed great gangs 
of negroes, and were forcing them to do the work of 
felling the trees that were to hem in Uncle Sam's gun- 
boats, for the benefit of the C. S. A. But the plans 
of the Confederates to this end were easily defeated. 
Porter had not only many willing arms at his com- 
mand, but the powerful aid of steam. When the gun- 
boats came to a tree lying across the bayou, a landing 
party went ashore and fastened large pulleys to a tree 
on the bank. Then a rope was passed through the 
block; and one end having been made fast to the fallen 
tree, the other was taken aboard a gunboat. The word 
was then given, "Back the iron-clad hard"; and the 
fallen monarch of the forest was soon dragged across 
the bayou and out of the way. So expert did the 
jackies become in this work, that they were soon able 
to clear away the trees faster than the enemy could fell 
them. The tug then went ahead, and for a time put 
an end to further tree-chopping, and captured several 
of the negro axemen. 

But while this slow and painful retreat was in prog- 
ress the Confederates were mustering by thousands. A 
few field batteries were brought into play, and the 
sharpshooters were becoming perniciously active. The 
narrowness of the bayous made the danger of capture 
by a rush of boarders from the shore ever present, 
and it was one of Porter's gravest fears. He began 
to think wistfully of Sherman, until one day when the 
bullets were flying with murderous effect upon those in 
the boats, a line of blue-clad soldiers burst from the 
woods and put the Confederates to flight. Sherman 
had come. 

From behind his shield. Porter looked out anxiously 
at the forces by which he was beleaguered. He could 
see clearly that the Confederates were increasing in 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 417 

numbers; and, when at last he saw a long gray column 
come sweeping out of the woods, his heart failed him, 
and for a moment he thought that the fate of his 
flotilla was sealed. But at that very moment deliver- 
ance was at hand. The Confederates were seen to 
fall into confusion, waver, and give way before a thin 
blue line, — the advance guard of Sherman's troops. 
The negro " telegram-wire " had proved faithful, and 
Sherman had come on to the rescue. 

That ended the difficulties of the flotilla. The 
enemy, once brought face to face with Sherman's men, 
departed abruptly; and soon the doughty general, 
mounted on an old gray horse, came riding down to 
the edge of the bayou, for a word with Porter. See- 
ing the admiral on the deck of his gunboat, he shouted 
out, " Hallo ! Porter, what did you get into such an 
ugly scrape for? So much for you navy fellows get- 
ting out of your element. Better send for the soldiers 
always. My boys will put you through. Here's your 
little nigger. He came through all right, and I started 
at once. Your gunboats are enough to scare the crows : 
they look as if you had got a terrible hammering." 

In a few days Porter and his webfooted gunboats 
were again with Grant and the army — still above Vicks- 
burg. By this time the General — always for the direct 
way of gaining an end, even though it involved risk 
and certain bloodshed — was tired of planning to evade 
the batteries and announced his determination to run 
boldly by them. But before undertaking this enter- 
prise seriously Porter thought he would test the perils 
of the trip. 

He took a large flatboat, and built it up with logs 
and lumber until it looked like a powerful ram. Two 
huge wheel-houses towered amidships, on each of which 
was painted, in great, staring letters, " Deluded Rebels, 
cave in." From the open ports, the muzzles of what 



4i8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

appeared to be heavy rifles protruded; though the guns 
that seemed so formidable were really only logs of 
wood. Two high smoke-stacks, built of empty pork- 
barrels, rose from the centre of this strange craft; and 
at the bottom of each stack was an iron pot, in which 
was a heap of tar and oakum that sent forth volumes 
of black smoke when lighted. One dark night the 
fires in this sham monster were lighted, and she was 
towed down to the Confederate batteries, and set drift- 
ing down the river. She was quickly discovered, and 
the batteries on the bluffs opened on her with a roar. 
There was nothing about the dummy to be hurt, how- 
ever; and it was impossible to sink her. So she sailed 
majestically through the plunging hail of solid shot, 
and past the terrible batteries that were thought to be 
a match for anything afloat. The Confederates in the 
trenches looked at each other in astonishment and dis- 
may. Word was sent to General Pemberton that a 
powerful Yankee iron-clad had passed the batteries un- 
hurt, and was speeding down the stream. The Gen- 
eral's first thought was of a gunboat, the " Indianola," 
lately captured from the Federals, and now being con- 
verted into an iron-clad ram. She must be saved from 
recapture, even if it should be necessary to destroy her. 
Word was hurriedly sent down the river that a formida- 
ble ram was bearing down upon the " Indianola "; and, 
if the latter vessel was not in condition to do battle, 
she should be blown up. Accordingly, while the 
dummy ram, caught in an eddy of the river, was whirl- 
ing helplessly around just below Vicksburg, the Con- 
federates put the torch to their new war-vessel, and she 
was soon a heap of ashes. Porter's little joke was a 
good one for the United States. 

Work was then begun to get the transports and gun- 
boats ready to run the gauntlet. 

But, though Grant could have starved the city into 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 419 

subjection by simply sitting and waiting, he grew tired 
of this, and determined to force matters to an issue. 
The first thing to be done was to get the gunboats 
and transports past the batteries. The transports were 
put into shape to stand a cannonade by having their 
weaker parts covered with cotton-bales; and on one 
dark night in June, the flotilla started down the river, 
with the iron-clad gunboats in advance. Admiral Por- 
ter led in the " Benton." At eleven o'clock the fleet 
got under way; and, as the "Benton" came abreast 
of the first batteries, the alarm was given in the Con- 
federate camp, and a fierce cannonade began. Huge 
fires were lighted on the shores to light up the river, 
and make the gunboats visible to the Confederate can- 
noneers. The warships swung grandly around the 
bend, responding with rapid broadsides to the fire of 
the forts. All the vessels were hit once or oftener. 
The heavy smoke that accompanies such fierce cannon- 
ading hung over the river, cutting off all view of the 
surroundings from the sailors. The eddying currents 
of the river caught the steamers, swinging them now 
this way, now that, until the perplexed pilots knew not 
which way their vessels were headed. The blue-jack- 
ets at the guns worked away cheerily, knowing that 
enemies were on every side of them, and that, no mat- 
ter which way their missiles sped, an enemy was to be 
found. More than one vessel turned completely 
around; and once, when the rising breeze cleared away 
the smoke, the pilot of the " Benton " found that he 
was taking his ship up-stream again, and was in im- 
minent danger of running down a friendly gunboat. 
But they all passed on without receiving any severe 
injuries, and at five o'clock in the morning lay anchored 
far below the city. 

The heavy batteries at Grand Gulf, called " the 
key to Vicksburg," were the next targets of the fleet, 



420 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

but the hardest pounding failed to produce any effect 
upon them. Indeed, it may be admitted that the whole 
work of the navy on the Mississippi was of Httle use, 
and would have been wholly ineffective save for the 
presence of the troops. Island No. lo fell to the army, 
not the navy. The batteries at Grand Gulf and Port 
Hudson defied all attacks from the water-side, and over 
them the Stars and Bars waved defiantly until Grant's 
long and patient siege starved Vicksburg into surrender. 
With the fall of that stronghold the others capitulated 
without awaiting further attack. 

When the fall of Vicksburg had thus left the river 
clear. Admiral Porter was ordered to take his fleet up 
the Red River, and clear away any Confederate works 
that he might find on the banks of that stream. Gen- 
eral A. J. Smith, with a strong body of troops, accom- 
panied him; while General Banks was to march his 
troops overland from Texas, and join the expedition 
at Shreveport. For several days the gunboats pressed 
forward up the crooked stream, meeting with no op- 
position, save from the sharpshooters who lined the 
banks on either side, and kept up a constant fire of 
small arms. 

Shreveport was reached in safety; and, after a short 
halt, the flotilla started again on their voyage up the 
river. They had proceeded but a short distance when 
a courier came galloping down the river's bank, waving 
a dispatch, which he handed to Admiral Porter. 

" The dispatch read, ' General Banks badly de- 
feated; return.' Here was a dilemma to be placed in, 
— a victorious army between us and our own forces; a 
long, winding, shallow river wherein the vessels were 
continually grounding; a long string of empty trans- 
ports, with many doubtful captains, who were con- 
stantly m.aking excuses to lie by or to land (in other 
words, who were trying to put their vessels into the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 421 

power of the Confederates) ; and a thousand points on 
the river where we could be attacked with great ad- 
vantage by the enemy; and the banks lined with sharp- 
shooters, by whom every incautious soldier who showed 
himself was shot." 

But, though the admiral clearly saw all the dangers 
he was exposed to, and which he recounts in the fore- 
going paragraph, he did not propose to return, but 
pressed forward. He soon reached the scene of battle, 
and with the big guns of his boats covered the retreat 
of the troops; then, having done all there was to be 
done, started down the river. 

But now came the great trouble of the whole ex- 
pedition. Those Southern rivers are accustomed in 
summer to fall rapidly until they become mere dry 
ditches, with a narrow rivulet, hardly deep enough to 
float a row-boat, flowing down the centre. This was 
the summer season, and the Red River was falling fast. 
The banks swarmed with gray-coated soldiery, anxious 
to be on hand to capture the ships. At Grand Ecore 
the " Eastport " became unmanageable, and was blown 
up. The fleet continued on its way quietly, until a 
serious obstacle was met. Admiral Porter writes : 

One of the " Cricket's " guns was mounted on the upper deck 
forward, to command the banks ; and a crew of six men were 
kept stationed at it, ready to fire at any thing hostile. 

We went along at a moderate pace, to keep within supporting 
distance of each other. I was sitting on the upper deck, reading, 
with one eye on the book and the other on the bushes, when I 
saw men's heads, and sang out to the commanding officer, Gor- 
ringe, " Give those fellows in the bushes a two-second shell." A 
moment after the shell burst in the midst of the people on the 
bank. 

" Give them another dose," I said, when, to my astonishment, 
there came on board a shower of projectiles that fairly made 
the little "Cricket" stagger. Nineteen shells burst on board our 
vessel at the first volley. It was the gun-battery of which our 
prisoner had told us. We were going along at this time about 
six knots an hour; and, before we could fire another gun, we were 



422 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

right under the battery and turning the point, presenting the 
" Cricket's " stern to the enemy. They gave us nine shells when we 
were not more than twenty yards distant from the bank, all of 
which burst inside of us; and, as the vessel's stern was presented, 
they poured in ten more shots, which raked us fore and aft. 

Then came the roar of three thousand muskets, which seemed to 
strike every spot in the vessel. Fortunately her sides were musket- 
proof. 

The " Cricket " stopped. I had been expecting it. How, thought 
I, could all these shells go through a vessel without disabling the 
machinery? The Rebels gave three cheers, and let us drift on: they 
were determined to have the whole of us. They opened their 
guns on the two pump-boats, and sunk them at the first discharge. 
The poor negroes that could swim tried to reach the shore ; but 
the musketeers picked off those that were in the water or clinging 
to the wrecks. It was a dreadful spectacle to witness, with no 
power to prevent it; but it turned out to be the salvation of the 
" Cricket." All this took place in less than five minutes. 

The moment the " Cricket " received the first discharge of 
artillery, I went on deck to the pilot-house, saluted by a volley of 
musketry as I passed along; and, as I opened the pilot-house door, 
I saw that the pilot, Mr. Drening, had his head cut open by a 
piece of shell, and the blood was streaming down his cheeks. He 
still held on to the wheel. " I am all right, sir," he said : " I won't 
give up the wheel." 

Gorringe was perfectly cool, and was ringing the engine-room 
bell to go ahead. In front of the wheel-house, the bodies of the 
men who manned the howitzer were piled up. A shell had struck 
the gun, and, exploding, had killed all the crew, — a glorious death 
for them. 



Porter now found himself in a bad fix. His guns 
could not be elevated enough to bear on the batteries 
that stood on the crest of the high bluffs. There was 
nothing to do but to run by at the best possible rate 
of speed. Suddenly the engine stopped, and the vessel 
floated helplessly down the stream. Porter rushed 
below to discover the trouble. In the engine-room 
stood the engineer leaning heavily against the throttle. 
Porter shouted at him, but received no reply; then, 
putting his hand on the man's shoulder, found him 
dead. The admiral threw the body aside, pulled open 
the throttle, and the " Cricket " glided along past the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 423 

batteries to a safe refuge downstream. The other 
ships came down safely, although more or less cut up; 
and the flotilla continued its retreat down the stream. 
For a day or two all went smoothly as a holiday ex- 
cursion; then came a sudden reverse, that, for a time, 
seemed to make certain the loss of the entire fleet. At 
Alexandria the Red River bottom is full of great rocks 
that make it impassable except at the highest water. 
When Porter's gunboats arrived, they found themselves 
caught in a trap from which there seemed to be no 
hope of escape. The army was encamped along the 
banks of the river, and the soldiers began again their 
jokes upon Porter's habit of taking gunboats for an 
overland journey. The army generals began to get 
impatient, and advised Porter to blow up his ships, as 
the troops must soon march on and leave him. Porter 
was sick in bed, but this suggestion aroused him. 
" Burn my gunboats ! " he cried, springing to his feet. 
"Never! Pll wait here for high water if I have to 
wait two years." And, indeed, it began to look 
as though he would be forced to wait nearly that 
long. 

In this time of suspense, there arose a man equal 
to the emergency. A certain Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, 
who had been a Wisconsin lumberman, came to Porter, 
and suggested that a dam should be built to raise the 
water fourteen feet above the falls. Porter jumped 
at the suggestion, and eight thousand men were set to 
work. 

" It will take too much time to enter into the details 
of this truly wonderful work," writes Admiral Porter. 
" Suflfice it to say that the dam had nearly reached 
completion in eight days' working-time, and the water 
had risen sufficiently on the upper falls to allow the 
' Fort Hindman,' ' Osage,' and ' Neosho ' to get down 
and be ready to pass the dam. In another day it would 



424 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

have been high enough to enable all the other vessels 
to pass the upper falls. Unfortunately, on the morning 
of the 9th instant the pressure of water became so great 
that it swept away two of the stone barges which swung 
in below the dam on one side. Seeing this unfortunate 
accident, I jumped on a horse, and rode up to where 
the upper vessels were anchored, and ordered the ' Lex- 
ington ' to pass the upper falls if possible, and im- 
mediately attempt to go through the dam. I thought 
I might be able to save the four vessels below, not know- 
ing whether the persons employed on the work would 
ever have the heart to renew their enterprise. 

" The ' Lexington ' succeeded in getting over the 
upper falls just in time, the water rapidly falling as 
she was passing over. She then steered directly for 
the opening in the dam, through which the water was 
rushing so furiously that It seemed as if nothing but 
destruction awaited her. Thousands of beating hearts 
looked on, anxious for the result. The silence was so 
great as the ' Lexington ' approached the dam, that a 
pin might almost be heard to fall. She entered the 
gap with a full head of steam on, pitched down the 
roaring torrent, made two or three spasmodic rolls, 
hung for a moment on the rocks below, was then swept 
into deep water by the current, and rounded to safely 
into the bank. Thirty thousand voices rose in one 
deafening cheer, and universal joy seemed to pervade 
the face of every man present." 

After the dam was repaired, the rest of the fleet 
passed down safely. 

With the escape of the Red River flotilla, the career 
of Admiral Porter on the rivers ended. Indeed, there 
was but little work for the river navy remaining. The 
Mississippi, Tennessee, and Cumberland Rivers were 
opened; and the Confederate works on the smaller 
streams were unimportant, and could be left to fall with 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 425 

the fall of the Confederacy, which was near at hand. 
There was work for fighting sea-captains along the At- 
lantic coast, and thither Admiral Porter was ordered. 
He will reappear at the bombardment of Fort 
Fisher. 



CHAPTER XXIV 

Farragut at Mobile — Loss of the " Tecumseh " — Craven's Gallant 
Death — Surrender of the " Tennessee " — The Navy at Charles- 
ton — Torpedoes and Submarines — Fall of Fort Fisher. 

When the operations of the navy on the Mississippi 
were completed the two commanders were ordered to 
new fields of activity — Porter to the Atlantic Coast, 
where we shall find him aiding in the subjugation of the 
last Confederate stronghold on that seaboard; Farra- 
gut to Mobile, which was the last port of any im- 
portance held by the Confederacy along the Mexican 
Gulf. 

It was on a bright August morning in 1864 that 
Admiral Farragut stood on the deck of his stanch 
frigate, the " Hartford," that had borne him through 
so many desperate battles. Around the flagship were 
clustered the vessels of the Gulf squadron. There 
was the battered old " Brooklyn," scarred with the 
wounds of a dozen fights; the "Richmond" and the 
" Itasca," that received their baptism of fire at the 
fight below New Orleans. In all there were fourteen 
wooden vessels and four iron-clad monitors assembled 
in front of the strongest combination of harbor de- 
fences that warships ever yet dared attack. Yet Far- 
ragut was there that bright summer morning to enter 
that bay, and batter the forts of the enemy into sub- 
jection. To capture the city was not his purpose, — 
that he left to the army,— but the harbor forts and 
the great ram " Tennessee " must strike their colors 
to the navy. 

Before arranging for the attack, the admiral made 
a reconnoissance, the results of which are thus told by 

426 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 427 

one of his officers: "On the afternoon of the day of 
our arrival, Admiral Farragut, with the commanding 
officers of the different vessels, made a reconnoissance 
on the steam-tender ' Cowslip,' running inside of Sand 
Island, where the monitors were anchored, and near 
enough to get a good view of both forts. On the left, 
some two miles distant, was Fort Gaines, a small brick- 
and-earth work, mounting a few heavy guns, but too 
far away from the ship-channel to cause much uneasi- 
ness to the fleet. Fort Morgan was on the right, one 
of the strongest of the old stone forts, and greatly 
strengthened by immense piles of sand-bags covering 
every portion of the exposed front. The fort was well 
equipped with three tiers of heavy guns, some of them 
of the best English make, imported by the Confederates. 
In addition, there was in front a battery of eleven 
powerful guns, at the water's edge on the beach. All 
the guns, of both fort and water battery, were within 
point-blank range of the only channel through which 
the fleet could pass. The Rebels considered the works 
impregnable, but they did not depend solely upon them. 
Just around the point of land, behind Fort Morgan, 
we could see that afternoon three saucy-looking gun- 
boats and the famous ram ' Tennessee.' The latter 
was then considered the strongest and most powerful 
iron-clad ever put afloat; looking like a great turtle, 
with sloping sides covered with iron plates six inches 
in thickness, thoroughly riveted together, and having a 
formidable iron beak projecting under the water. Her 
armament consisted of six heavy guns of English make, 
sending a solid shot weighing one hundred and ten 
pounds, — a small affair compared with the heavy guns 
at the present time, but irresistible then against every- 
thing but the turrets of the monitors. In addition 
to these means of resistance, the narrow channel in 
front of the fort had been lined with torpedoes. These 



428 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

were under the water, anchored to the bottom, and 
were chiefly in the shape of beer-kegs filled with pow- 
der, from the sides of which projected numerous little 
tubes containing fulminate, which it was expected would 
be exploded by contact with the passing vessels. 

When the reconnoissance was completed, the admiral 
called a council of his captains in the ward-room of 
the " Hartford," and announced that the attack would 
be made early the following morning. The council 
over, each commander returned to his ship, there to 
make ready for the dread business of the morrow. 
The same writer whom we have before quoted tells 
how the night before a battle is spent by brave men 
not afraid of death: 

At sunset the last order had been issued. Every commanding 
officer knew his duty, and unusual quiet prevailed in the fleet. The 
waters of the Gulf rested for a time from their customary tumult, 
a gentle breeze relieved the midsummer heat, and the evening closed 
upon us as peacefully as if we had been on board a yatching 
squadron at Newport. During the early part of the night, the 
stillness was almost oppressive. The officers of the " Hartford " 
gathered around the capacious ward-room table, writing what they 
knew might be their last letters to loved ones far away, or giving to 
friends messages and instructions in case of death. There were no 
signs of fear; but, like brave and intelligent men, they recognized 
the stern possibilities of the morrow, and acted accordingly. 

But this occupied but little time ; and then, business over, there 
followed an hour of unrestrained jollity. Many an old story was 
retold, and ancient conundrum repeated. Old officers forgot for 
the moment their customary dignity, and it was evident that all 
were exhilarated and stimulated by the knowledge of the coming 
struggle. Captain Heywood of the marines proposed a final " walk- 
around;" Tyson solemnly requested information as to "Which 
would you rather do or go by Fort Morgan ? " and all agreed they 
would prefer to " do." La Rue Adams repeated the benediction 
with which the French instructor at the naval academy was wont 
to greet his boys as they were going into examination : " Veil, 
fellows, I hope ve vill do as veil as I hope ve vill do." Finally, 
Chief Engineer Williamson suggested an adjournment to the fore- 
castle for a smoke, and the smoking club went forward ; but 
somehow smoke had lost its customary flavor, and, after a few 
whiffs, all hands turned in, to enjoy what sleep would come. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 429 

When the morning dawned, the men were called to 
quarters, and the advance upon the forts was begun at 
once. It was a foggy morning, and the ships looked 
like phantom vessels as they moved forward In line 
of battle, with the " Brooklyn " In the van. Second 
came the " Hartford," with the admiral high up In 
the rigging, where he could overlook the whole scene. 

Nearly every man had his watch in his hand, and waited for the 
first shot. To us, ignorant of everything going on above, every 
minute seemed an hour; and there was a feeHng of great rehef 
when the boom of the first gun was heard. This was from the 
monitor " Tecumseh," at forty-seven minutes past six o'clock. 
Presently one or two of our forward guns opened, and we could 
hear the distant sound of the guns of the fort in reply. Soon the 
cannon-balls began to crash through the deck above us, and then 
the thunder of our whole broadside of twelve Dahlgren guns kept 
the vessel in a quiver. But as yet no wounded were sent down, and 
we knew we were still at comparatively long range. In the intense 
excitement of the occasion, it seemed that hours had passed; but it 
was just twenty minutes from the time we went below when an 
officer shouted down the hatchway : " Send up an army signal- 
officer immediately : the ' Brooklyn ' is signaling." In a moment 
the writer was on deck, where he found the situation as follows : 
The " Brooklyn," directly in front of us, had stopped, and was 
backing and signaling ; the tide was with us, setting strongly 
through the channel, and the stopping of the " Brooklyn " threatened 
to bring the whole fleet into collision and confusion; the advance 
vessels of the line were trying to back to prevent a catastrophe, but 
were apparently not able to overcome the force of the current ; and 
there was danger not only of collision, but of being drifted on 
shore. 

While the fleet was thus embarrassed and hampered, 
the gunners In the forts were pouring In their shot 
thick and fast. On the decks of the ships the most 
terrible scenes of death were visible. Along the port 
side the bodies of the dead were ranged In long rows, 
while the wounded were carried below, until the sur- 
geon's room was filled to Its last corner. One poor 
fellow on the " Hartford " lost both legs by a cannon- 
ball, and, falling, threw up both arms just in time to 



430 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

have them carried away also. Strange to say, he re- 
covered from these fearful wounds. 

Just as the fight was at its hottest, and the vessels 
were nearing the line, the passage of which meant 
victory, there went up a cry from the whole fleet, " The 
' Tecumseh ! ' Look at the ' Tecumseh ! ' " All eyes 
were turned on the monitor, and every one saw that 
she was sinking. She staggered for a moment, and 
went down with a rush, carrying her brave commander 
and over a hundred of her crew. A few escaped, 
the last of whom was the pilot. As the pilot was rush- 
ing for the hatchway that led to the open air and to 
life, he met at the foot of a narrow ladder Commander 
Craven. Craven stepped back, saying gravely, " After 
you, pilot"; and the pilot passed out. "There was 
nothing after me," said he, in relating the story 
afterwards; " for as I sprang out of the hatchway 
the water rushed in, carrying all behind me to the 
bottom." 

This terrible sight made the ships stop for a moment 
in some confusion; but Farragut signalled sternly from 
his flagship, " Go on," and all advanced again. As 
the fight grew fiercer, the admiral grew tired of being 
on the second ship in the line, and ordered the " Hart- 
ford " to forge ahead. 

" On board a war steamer the engines are directed 
by the tap of a bell, the wires connected with which 
lead to the quarter-deck. One stroke of the bell means 
' go ahead '; two, ' stop '; three, ' back '; and four, ' go 
ahead as fast as possible,' Leaning down through the 
shrouds to the officer on deck at the bell-pull, the ad- 
miral shouted, ' four bells, eight bells, sixteen bells ! 
Give her all the steam you've got ! ' The order was 
instantly transmitted, and the old ship seemed imbued 
with the admiral's spirit; and running past the * Brook- 
lyn ' and the monitors, regardless of fort, ram, gun- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 431 

boats, and the unseen foe beneath, dashed ahead, all 
alone, save for her gallant consort, the * Metacomet.' " 

But by this time the fleet was well abreast of the 
forts, and now, pouring out broadside after broadside, 
they swept along past the terrible ramparts. The 
Confederate gunboats had found the fight too hot for 
them, and had fled for shelter, with the exception of 
the dreaded " Tennessee," which seemed to be holding 
itself in reserve. It was but a short time before the 
vessels were safely past the fort, and out of range, 
floating on the smooth waters of the inner bay. Then 
the crews were piped to breakfast, and all hands be- 
gan to recount their narrow escapes. 

But the end was not yet, for the ram " Tennessee " 
was now ready to try her mettle with the fleet. Lieu- 
tenant Kinney of the " Hartford " tells graphically the 
story of the desperate fight that the ram carried on 
alone against the whole attacking flotilla. 

We were just beginning to feel the reaction following such a 
season of extreme peril and excitement, when we were brought 
to our senses by the sharp, penetrating voice of executive officer 
Kimberly calling all hands to quarters ; and a messenger-boy hur- 
ried down to us with the word, " The ram is coming." Every man 
hastened to his post, the writer to the quarter-deck, where the 
admiral and fleet-captain were standing. The cause of the new 
excitement was evident at once. The " Tennessee," as if ashamed of 
her failure, had left the fort and was making at full speed directly 
for the " Hartford," being then perhaps a mile and a half distant. 
The spectacle was a grand one, and was viewed by the Rebel soldiers 
in both forts, who were now out of range of our guns, and lined 
the walls. Few audiences have ever witnessed so imposing a sight. 
The great ram came on for a single-handed contest with the fleet. 
She was believed to be invulnerable, and had powerful double 
engines by which she could be easily handled ; while our monitors 
were so slow-gaited that they were unable to offer any serious 
obstacle to her approach. Farragut himself seemed to place his 
chief dependence on his wooden vessels. Doubtless the crowd of 
Confederate soldiers who watched the fight expected to see the 
" Tennessee " sink the Yankee vessels in detail, and the chances 
seemed in its favor. . . , 



432 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Meanwhile, the general signal, " Attack the enemy," had gone up 
to the peak of the "Hartford;" and there followed a general 
slipping of cables, and a friendly rivalry to see which could quickest 
meet the foe. The " Monongahela," with her artificial iron prow, 
was bravely in the lead, and struck the Rebel craft amidships at 
full speed, doing no damage to the ram, but having her own iron 
prow destroyed, and being otherwise injured. Next came the 
" Lackawanna," with a like result. The huge iron frame of the 
" Tennessee " scarcely felt the shock, while the wooden bow of the 
Union ship was badly demoralized. For an instant the two vessels 
swung head and stern alongside of each other. In his official 
report. Captain Marchland naively remarks : — 

" A few of the enemy were seen through their ports who were 
using most opprobriotis language. Our marines opened on them 
with muskets ; even a spittoon and a holystone were thrown at them 
from our deckj which drove them away." 

The " Tennessee " fired two shots through her bow, and then 
kept on for the " Hartford." The two flag-ships approached each 
other, bow to bow. The two admirals, Farragut and Buchanan, had 
entered our navy together as boys, and up to the outbreak of the 
war had been warm friends. But now each was hoping for the 
overthrow of the other; and, had Buchanan possessed the grit 
of Farragut, it is probable that moment would have witnessed the 
destruction of both vessels. For had the ram struck us square, as 
it came, bows on, it would have ploughed its way half through the 
" Hartford ; " and, as we sank, we should have carried it to the 
bottom, unable to extricate itself. But the Rebel admiral was not 
desirous of so much glory; and, just as the two vessels were 
meeting, the course of the " Tennessee " was slightly changed, 
enough to strike us only a glancing blow on the port-bow, which 
left us uninjured, while the two vessels grated past each other. He 
tried to sink us with a broadside as he went by ; but only one of 
his guns went off, the primers in all the others failing. That gun 
sent a shell that entered the berth-deck of the " Hartford," and 
killed five men. 



But by this time the unequal conflict was becoming 
too much even for a man of Buchanan's courage. The 
armor of the ram was penetrated in several places, and 
at last cdme a shot that almost fatally wounded her 
commander. With the controlling mind that guided 
her course gone, the ram was useless; and in a moment 
a white flag fluttered from the shattered stump of her 
flagstaff. And so closed the naval battle that effectually 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 433 

ended Confederate rule on the Gulf coast, and earned 
for Farragut his proudest laurels. 

While Farragut was thus bursting through the sea- 
ward defences of Mobile, the navy on the Atlantic was 
striving to capture Charleston, the last considerable 
city on that seaboard remaining to the Confederates. 
Here the navy failed. It maintained the blockade, it 
is true, but the actual capture of the city was left to 
the army. Fort Sumter in the middle of the harbor, 
and the cordon of supporting works on the surround- 
ing islands, were too much for even the fleet of iron- 
clads to pass, so they contented themselves with lying 
off the harbor and shutting the city off from all its 
foreign commerce. The city slowly starved. Its 
wharves were deserted. Its streets grown up with grass. 
Idle negroes loafed in the shade, while the white men 
went forth to swell the Confederate armies. But the 
few that remained plotted to break the naval barrier 
that isolated Charleston from the world. Torpedoes 
and submarines were used to accomplish this end, 
neither device new then, neither then successful, but 
both now in the second decade of the twentieth century 
vital portions of naval equipment. 

Charleston harbor was not first to see efforts to 
utilize the submarine in war. It was during the year 
1777 that occurred the first attempt to use gunpowder 
in the shape of a submarine torpedo. This device 
originated with a clever Connecticut mechanic named 
David Bushnell. His invention covered not only sub- 
marine torpedoes, to be launched against a vessel, but 
a submarine boat in which an adventurous navigator 
might undertake to go beneath the hull of a man-of- 
war, and aflix the torpedoes, so that failure should be 
impossible. This boat in shape was not unlike a 
turtle. A system of valves, air-pumps, and ballast 
enabled the operator to ascend or descend in the water 



434 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

at will. A screw-propeller afforded means of propul- 
sion, and phosphorescent gauges and compasses enabled 
him to steer with some accuracy. 

Preliminary tests made with this craft were uni- 
formly successful. After a skilled operator had been 
obtained, the boat perfectly discharged the duties re- 
quired of her. But, as is so often the case, when the 
time for action came she proved inadequate to the 
emergency. Let her inventor tell the story in his own 
words : 



After various attempts to find an operator to my wish, I sent 
one, who appeared to be more expert than the rest, from New 
York, to a fifty-gun ship, lying not far from Governor's Island. He 
went under the ship, and attempted to fix the wooden screw to 
her bottom, but struck, as he supposes, a bar of iron, which passes 
from the rudder hinge, and is spiked under the ship's quarter. Had 
he moved a few inches, which he miglit have done without rowing, 
I have no doubt he would have found wood where he might have 
fixed the screw; or, if the ship were sheathed with copper, he might 
easily have pierced it. But not being well skilled in the manage- 
ment of the vessel, in attempting to move to another place, he 
lost the ship. After seeking her in vain for some time, he rowed 
some distance, and rose to the surface of the water, but found 
daylight had advanced so far that he durst not renew the attempt. 
He says that he could easily have fastened the magazine under 
the stern of the ship above water, as he rowed up to the stern 
and touched it before he descended. Had he fastened it there, 
the explosion of a hundred and fifty pounds of powder (the 
quantity contained in the magazine) must have been fatal to the 
ship. In his return from the ship to New York, he passed near 
Governor's Island, and thought he was discovered by the enemy 
on the island. Being in haste to avoid the danger he feared, he 
cast off the magazine, as he imagined it retarded him in the swell, 
which was very considerable. After the magazine had been cast 
off one hour, the time the internal apparatus was set to run, it blew 
up with great violence. 

It was almost ninety years after this test that the 
Confederates tried both torpedo boats and submarines 
to break the blockade at Charleston. One submarine 
went to the bottom carrying eight men, whose bones 




BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 435 

still repose In their Iron sarcophagus in the ooze of 
the harbor's bed. More was done by what would 
now be called a " semi-submerged torpedo boat " — a 
type now being perfected In the new navy. The craft 
was about twenty-five feet long, shaped like a cigar, 
built of boiler-iron, and propelled by a screw. She 
had no smoke-stack, and her deck barely rose above 
the surface of the water. Running out from her bow 
was a stout spar fifteen feet long, bearing at its end 
a huge torpedo charged with two hundred pounds of 
powder. Just before nine o'clock one night, the look- 
out on the deck of the frigate " Housatonic " saw this 
strange object approaching the ship. It was a bright 
night, with no sea on. As yet torpedoes were hardly 
known, so the lookout took It for a large fish, and 
simply watched with Interest its playful movements. 
Not until it came so close that no guns could be brought 
to bear, did any suspicion of danger enter the look- 
out's mind. Then there was the roll of the alarm- 
drums; while the men rushed to the side, and poured 
a fierce fire from small arms on the mysterious object. 
The " Housatonic " started her engines, and tried to 
escape; but, before any headway could be gained, the 
launch dashed alongside, and a slight jar was felt. 
Then, with a tremendous roar, a huge column of water 
was thrown high In air, washing away men and boats 
from the deck of the warship. A hole large enough 
to drive a horse through was rent In the hull of the 
ship. Great beams were broken in twain, the heaviest 
guns were dismounted, and men were hurled fifty feet 
Into the air. In five minutes the ship had gone 
to the bottom, and boats from other vessels were 
picking up the crew. The launch escaped in the 
excitement. 

Thereafter, the Union ships remained off Charles- 
ton, harassing the forts, shutting off communication 



436 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

with the outside world, and supporting the army until 
February i8, 1865, when the Confederates evacuated 
the city, and left the fort to the victorious Federals. 
Five years after the date when Major Anderson with 
his little band of soldiers had marched out of Sumter, 
leaving the fort to the enemy, the same gallant officer 
returned, and with his own hand hoisted the same tat- 
tered flag over the almost ruined fortress, amid salvos 
of artillery and the cheers of a victorious army and 
navy. 

While Charleston, beleaguered by land and by sea, 
was awaiting its inevitable doom, the only other Con- 
federate stronghold on the Atlantic coast hauled down 
Its flag to the Union army and navy. 

This Confederate stronghold was known as Fort 
Fisher, and had been for a long time a cause of anxiety 
and worry to the Northern authorities. The war had 
gone past Fort Fisher. To the north and to the south 
of it the country was under the sway of the Federal 
authorities; but there in North Carolina stood the 
formidable bastions over which floated, in defiance of 
the laws of the Union, the Stars and Bars of the rapidly 
dying Confederacy. 

To reduce this stronghold, a joint naval and military 
expedition was fitted out; and General Butler was 
placed In command of the land forces, while Admiral 
Porter, torn from his beloved Western rivers, was 
given command of the fleet. Butler Introduced a novel 
feature at the very opening of the siege. He procured 
an old steamer, and had her packed full of gunpowder. 
On a dark night this craft was towed close to the 
walls of the fort and set afire, In the hopes that she 
might. In blowing up, tear the works to pieces. But 
In this the projectors were disappointed; for the ex- 
plosion, though a terrific one, did absolutely no harm 
to the Confederate works. When Porter finally did get 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 437 

into the fort, he asked a soldier what he thought of 
the attempt to blow them up. " It was a mighty mean 
trick," responded the Southerner satirically. " You 
woke us all up." 

After this fiasco had set all the world laughing, 
Butler retired voluntarily, and was succeeded by Gen- 
eral Terry; and on Christmas Eve of the year 1864 
the fleet began the bombardment, although the land 
forces were not yet prepared for the assault. It was 
the grandest armada that was ever arrayed against any 
fortress. The thunder of nearly five hundred guns 
rent the air on that Christmas Eve, when carols were 
being sung in Christian churches throughout the world. 
Tremendous as was the cannonade, the earthworks were 
almost a match for it. The fort was not a mass of 
masonry that these enormous guns might batter down 
and crumble into rubbish, but a huge bank of earth 
in which the shells might harmlessly bury themselves. 
But five hundred cannon are more than a match for 
any fort, and so they soon proved to be in this in- 
stance. Earthworks, guns, and men alike went down 
before them. The iron-clads were stationed about 
three-quarters of a mile from the fort, a little farther 
out were the frigates and heavy sloops, and still be- 
yond were the smaller vessels, — all firing to cover them- 
selves; and all along the whole extended line there 
blazed one almost continuous sheet of flame, while the 
rolling thunder of the broadsides, and the defiant an- 
swering roar from the guns of the forts, shook earth 
and sea. Clouds of dust went up from the bastions 
of the fort, and mingled with the floating smoke above. 
Within the forts, there was a scene of the most terrible 
confusion : guns were overturned, piles of cannon-balls 
were knocked to pieces and scattered about, and two 
magazines were blown up and scattered fragments all 
over the parade. In one hour and a quarter all the 



438 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

gunners were driven to the bomb-proofs, and the forts 
were silenced, not returning a single shot. 

On Christmas morning General Terry arrived with 
all his transports, and the attack was recommenced. 
Early In the morning the ships fell Into position and 
began a slow fire, merely to cover the landing of the 
troops. Again the garrison was driven to the bomb- 
proofs; and, indeed, so entirely were they chased from 
their posts, that a Federal soldier went into the fort 
and brought off a Confederate flag without ever having 
been seen by the garrison. All the troops were landed; 
but for some reason the attack was deferred, much 
to the disgust of the officers of the fleet, who felt sure 
that the fort could be taken then by a dash. 

On the 14th of January the heavy bombardment 
began again, and again the troops were landed. By 
night it was seen that every gun on the face of the fort 
was disabled, and It was decided to storm the works 
the next day. Sixteen hundred sailors and four hun- 
dred marines were told off as the storming-party. 

Early In the morning the ships began a fierce can- 
nonade, under cover of which the sailors and marines 
landed, and threw up light breastworks to cover them 
until the time should be ripe for the charge. The 
arrangements contemplated a fierce charge by the blue- 
jackets, armed with their cutlasses and revolvers; while 
the marines, remaining In the rifle-pits, should cover 
the advancing party with a hot fire of musketry. The 
soldiers were to charge the fort on the other side. 

At three o'clock came the signal that all was ready. 
The whistles of the ships rent the air; and the blue- 
jackets, with ringing cheers, dashed in a compact body 
up the beach. But In an instant the Confederate ram- 
parts were black with men, and a furious fire of mus- 
ketry rained down upon the sailors, who were helpless. 
The marines In the rifle-pits failed to do what was 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 439 

expected of them, and the sailors halted for a moment 
in surprise. 

As they stood, a most destructive fire rained down 
upon them; and the poor fellows, grasping their use- 
less cutlasses, turned and fled down the beach, leaving 
great heaps of dead and wounded behind. Then the 
Confederates, thinking the day was theirs, sprang on 
the ramparts, and began a vigorous cheer just as the 
Union soldiers came pouring over the landward face 
of the fort. Then ensued a fierce hand-to-hand fight 
that lasted for hours. The blue-jackets, encouraged, 
rushed back to the fight, and now at close quarters 
swung their cutlasses with deadly effect, until step by 
step the Confederates were driven out of the fort. 
Then the fleet opened upon them, and they fled for 
dear life while a sailor sprang to the flagstaff and pulled 
down the Confederate flag. Fort Fisher had fallen. 
With the fall of Fort Fisher, the navy ceased to be 
a prominent factor in the war. Its work was done. 
Along the seacoast, and inland as far as navigable 
rivers extended, the ships of the North had carried the 
starry banner; and the sailor-boys of the North had 
defended it. And their opponents, whether on sea 
or shore, had shown themselves courageous and dash- 
ing, and worthy to be numbered as men of the same 
nation as those who proved the victors. 



CHAPTER XXV 

The Commerce Destroyers — The " Alabama " — Sinking the " Hat- 
teras " — Battle with the " Kearsarge " — The " Shenandoah " and 
Other Cruisers. 

The work of the Confederate commerce destroyers 
forms one of the important chapters of the war. They 
alone of the ships flying the Stars and Bars did service 
on the high seas; they only showed the Confederate 
colors in foreign ports. If their work was not glorious, 
being in the main the destruction of unarmed vessels, 
it was a usual and necessary accompaniment of war 
at that time. Indeed it is still, for the proposition to 
exempt private property from confiscation at sea, as 
it is exempted on land, has never been made a matter 
of international agreement. One can hardly remember 
without mortification that our first prize in the war 
with Spain was a lumber steamship, whose captain, 
knowing nothing of the declaration of war, and seeing a 
fleet of American warships at anchor off Key West, 
steamed close to them and raised his Spanish flag in 
courteous salutation. 

The Confederate cruisers during the course of the 
war were commonly described in the North as " pirates." 
Later the epithet was softened to " privateers." As a 
matter of fact they were neither, but regularly com- 
missioned men-of-war whose weakness alone forbade 
them seeking conflicts with other armed vessels. They 
had no home ports open to them; no places at which 
to refit after a hard fight. But they did not cruise 
in search of spoils or profit, but solely for the public 
purpose of inflicting upon the enemy all possible damage. 

440 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 441 

Most famous of all the cruisers was the " Alabama." 
This vessel was built in England, ostensibly as a mer- 
chant-vessel, although her heavy decks and sides, and 
her small hatchways, might have warned the English 
officials that she was intended for purposes of war. 
Before she was finished, however, the customs-house 
people began to suspect her character; and goaded on 
by the frequent complaints of the United States min- 
ister, that a war-vessel was being built for the Con- 
federates, they determined to seize her. But customs- 
house officials do things slowly; and, while they were 
getting ready for the seizure. Captain Semmes, who had 
taken command of his new ship, duped them, and got 
his vessel safely out of English waters. Many private 
detectives and officials were sent by the United States 
legation to examine the ship while building, but they 
were successfully blinded to its real character. At last 
came a retired naval officer whose acute questions 
showed that he knew what he was about. The next 
day the " 290 " put to sea all littered and ill-found as 
she was. 

To disarm suspicion, a large party of ladies and 
gentlemen were invited aboard; and the ship started 
down the Mersey, ostensibly on her trial trip, with 
the sounds of music and popping corks ringing from 
her decks. But peaceful and merry as the start seemed, 
it was the beginning of a voyage that was destined to 
bring ruin to hundreds of American merchants, and 
leave many a good United States vessel a smoking 
ruin on the breast of the ocean. When she was a 
short distance down the river, two tugs were seen putting 
off from the shore; and in a moment the astonished 
guests were requested to leave the ship, and betake 
themselves homeward in the tugs. It is unnecessary 
to follow the voyage of the " No. 290 " to Nassau, 
and deail the way in which cannon, ammunition, and 



442 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

naval stores were sent out from Portsmouth in a second 
vessel, and transferred to her just outside of Nassau. 
It is enough to say that on a bright, clear Sunday morn- 
ing, in the latter part of August, 1862, Captain Rafael 
Semmes, late of the Confederate cruiser " Sumter," 
a gentleman of middle height, wearing a uniform of 
gray and gold, his dark moustache waxed to such 
sharp points that one would think him a Frenchman 
rather than a Southerner, stood on the quarter-deck of 
the " No. 290," with his crew mustered before him, 
reading out his commission from Jefferson Davis, as 
commander of the Confederate States' steam-sloop 
" Alabama." As he read, an old master's-mate, stand- 
ing at the peak-halyards, begins pulling at the ropes. 
The British ensign, carried through the ship's anony- 
mous days, comes fluttering down, and in its place runs 
up the white naval ensign of the Confederacy, with the 
starry Southern Cross in the red field of the corner. 
Then the reading is ended. Boom ! goes the starboard 
forecastle-gun. The band bursts forth with the stirring 
notes of Dixie; and the sailors, after three ringing 
cheers, crowd forward to wait for further developments. 
Soon the sailors are summoned aft again, and Captain 
Semmes addresses them. He tells them that, as the 
" Alabama " is to be a ship-of-war, they are released 
from their shipping contract, but are invited to ship 
under the new plan. He briefly details the purpose of 
the cruise. The " Alabama " is to be a bird of passage, 
flitting from port to port, and hovering about the high- 
ways of travel, to lie in wait for the merchant-vessels 
of the North. Armed vessels she will avoid as much 
as possible, confining her warfare to the helpless mer- 
chantmen. It is hardly a glorious programme, but it 
seems to bear the promise of prize-money; and before 
the day is over Captain Semmes has shipped a crew of 
eighty men, and with these the " Alabama " begins 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 443 

her cruise. The remainder of the sailors are sent 
ashore, and the " Alabama " starts off under sail, in 
search of her first capture. 

Let us look for a moment at this vessel, perhaps the 
most famous of all cruisers. She was a fast screw- 
steamer, of a little more than a thousand tons' burden. 
Her screw was so arranged that it could be hoisted out 
of the water; and, as the saving of coal was a matter 
of necessity, the " Alabama " did most of her cruising 
under sail. Her hull was of wood, with no iron plat- 
ing, and her battery consisted of but eight light guns; 
two facts which made it necessary that she should avoid 
any conflicts with the powerful ships of the United 
States navy. Her lines were beautifully fine; and, as she 
sped swiftly through the water. Captain Semmes felt 
that his vessel could escape the Northern cruisers as 
easily as she could overhaul the lumbering merchantmen. 
The crew was a turbulent one, picked up in the streets 
of Liverpool, and made up of men of all nationalities. 

There followed many days of uneventful cruising 
which was perhaps as well, for the crew was green, 
undisciplined, unused to working batteries or even to 
handling small arms. The voice of the drill master 
echoed over the ship day after day, but the records are 
only too clear that even at the end of the " Alabama's " 
career the crew were ill-disciplined and little used to 
war. But for taking and destroying unarmed mer- 
chantmen they were sufficiently drilled, and prizes fell 
fast not to their guns, but to the mere threat which 
the display of them conveyed. There was little ad- 
venture In taking and burning unarmed merchantmen. 
Burned, they had to be, for the Confederates had no 
open ports Into which to send their prizes, and for 
that reason there was no prize money for the sailors. 
Indeed the great embarrassment of the cruise was the 
disposition to be made of the prisoners. After taking 



444 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

several ships the " Alabama's " decks became so crowded 
that it was needful to seek a neutral port in order to 
free the captives. Accordingly she made for Mar- 
tinique and in that port was discovered by the United 
States ship " San Jacinto." She was too heavy for 
the " Alabama's " metal, and Captain Semmes thinking 
discretion the better part of valor, the Confederate 
ship remained safe in the neutral harbor. The " San 
Jacinto " quietly remained outside, thinking that at 
last the fox was caught. But that same night, with 
all lights extinguished, and running under full steam, 
the " Alabama " slipped right under the broadside of 
her enemy, getting clean away, so quietly that the 
" San Jacinto " remained for four days guarding the 
empty trap. 

Soon after leaving Martinique, the " Alabama " made 
a capture which embarrassed the captain not a little by 
its size. It was Sunday (which Captain Semmes calls 
in his journal "the 'Alabama's' lucky day"), when 
a bit of smoke was seen far off on the horizon, fore- 
telling the approach of a steamer. Now was the time 
for a big haul; and the "Alabama's" canvas was 
furled, and her steam-gear put in running order. The 
two vessels approached each other rapidly; and soon 
the stranger came near enough for those on the " Ala- 
bama " to make out her huge walking-beam, seesawing 
up and down amidships. The bright colors of ladies' 
dresses were visible; and some stacks of muskets, and 
groups of blue-uniformed men, forward, told of the pres- 
ence of troops. The " Alabama " came up swiftly, her 
men at the guns, and the United States flag flying 
from the peak. In a moment the stranger showed 
the Stars and Stripes, and then the " Alabama " ran 
up the white ensign of the Confederacy, and fired a 
blank cartridge. But the stranger had no thought of 
surrendering, and crowded on all steam and fled. The 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 445 

" Alabama " was no match for her in speed, so a more 
peremptory summons was sent in the shape of a shell 
that cut the steamer's foremast in two. This hint was 
sufficient. The huge paddles ceased revolving, and a 
boat's-crew from the " Alabama " went aboard to take 
possession. The prize proved to be the mail steamer 
" Ariel," with five hundred passengers, besides a hun- 
dred and forty marines and a number of army and 
naval officers. Now Captain Semmes had an elephant 
on his hands, and what to do with that immense number 
of people he could not imagine. Clearly the steamer 
could not be burned hke other captures. For two 
days Captain Semmes kept the prize near him, debating 
what was to be done, and then released her; exacting 
from all the military and naval officers their paroles that 
they would not take up arms against the Confederacy. 

After this exploit the *' Alabama " went into port 
for a few days, and then headed into the Gulf of 
Mexico. Here she steamed about, capturing and burn- 
ing a few United States merchantmen, until on the i ith 
of January she found herself off the port of Galveston, 
where a strong blockading fleet was stationed. And 
here she fought her first battle. 

About four o'clock of a clear afternoon, the lookout 
in the cross trees of the United States sloop-of-war 
" Hatteras," stationed off the port of Galveston, hailed 
the officer of the deck, and reported a steamer standing 
up and down outside. The stranger was watched 
closely through marine glasses, and finally decided to 
be a blockade-runner trying to make the port; and the 
" Hatteras " immediately set out in pursuit. This was 
just what Captain Semmes desired. He knew that the 
ships stationed off Galveston were not heavily armed, 
and he felt sure that if he could entice one away from 
the rest of the fleet he would be able to send her 
to the bottom. Accordingly he steamed away slowly, 



446 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

letting the " Hatteras " gain on him, but at the same 
time drawing her out of the reach of any aid from her 
consorts. When about twenty miles away from the 
fleet, the " Alabama " slowed down and finally stopped 
altogether, waiting for the " Hatteras " to come up. 
The latter vessel came within two hundred yards, and 
hailed, "What ship's that?"— "Her Majesty's ship 
' Petrel,' " answered Semmes. A literal adhesion to 
truth never characterized men of the old navy when an 
enemy was encountered. The captain of the " Hat- 
teras " answered that he would send a boat aboard; 
but, before the boat touched the water, a second hail 
announced, " We are the Confederate ship ' Ala- 
bama,' " and in an instant a heavy broadside crashed 
into the " Hatteras." Every one of the shots took 
effect; and one big fellow from the one hundred and 
five pounder rifle peeled off six feet of iron plating 
from the side of the " Hatteras," and lodged in the 
hold. Dazed by this unexpected fire, but plucky as 
ever, the blue-jackets sprung to their guns and returned 
the fire. The two ships were so close together that a 
good shot with a revolver could have picked off his 
man every time, and the sailors hurled taunts at each 
other between the volleys. Not a shot missed the 
"Hatteras": in five minutes she was riddled with 
holes, and on fire, and a minute or two later the 
engineer came up coolly and reported, " Engine's dis- 
abled, sir"; followed quickly by the carpenter, who 
remarked, " Ship's making water fast; can't float more 
than ten minutes, sir." There was nothing for It 
but surrender, and the flag came down amid frantic 
yells from the " Alabama " sailors. Semmes got out 
his boats with wonderful rapidity, and picked up all 
the men on the "Hatteras"; and the defeated vessel 
sank in ten minutes. One of the strange things about 
this battle w^s the small number of men injured. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 447 

Nothing but shells were fired, and they searched every 
part of the vessels; yet when the fight was over the 
*' Alabama " had but one man wounded, while the 
" Hatteras " had two men killed and three wounded. 
The shells played some strange pranks in their course. 
One ripped up a long furrow in the deck of the " Ala- 
bama," and knocked two men high in the air without 
disabling them. Another struck a gun full in the 
mouth, tore off one side of it, and shoved it back ten 
feet, without injuring any of the crew. One man who 
was knocked overboard by the concussion was back 
again and serving his gun in two minutes. A shell 
exploded in the coal of the " Hatteras," and sent the 
stuff flying all about the vessel, without injuring a man. 

With her prisoners stowed away in all available places 
about her decks, the " Alabama " headed for Jamaica, 
and cast anchor in the harbor of Port Royal. There 
were several English men-of-war there, and the officers 
of the victorious ship were lionized and feasted to their 
hearts' content. The prisoners were landed, the *' Ala- 
bama's " wounds were bound up, and she was made 
ready for another cruise. 

Again the weary round of cruising was taken up and 
the Atlantic patrolled from Land's End to Cape Town. 
The prizes were invariably burned and the prisoners 
landed as speedily as possible. 

But we cannot follow the " Alabama " in her career 
about the world. A full account of her captures would 
fill volumes; and in this narrative we must pass hastily 
by the time that she spent scouring the ocean, dodging 
United States men-of-war, and burning Northern mer- 
chantmen, until, on the nth of June, she entered 
the harbor of Cherbourg, France, and had hardly 
dropped anchor when the United States man-of-war 
" Kearsarge " appeared outside, and calmly settled 
down to wait for the Confederate to come out and fight. 



448 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Captain Semmes seemed perfectly ready for the con- 
flict, and began getting his ship in shape for the battle. 

The " Kearsarge " had hardly hove in sight when 
Captain Semmes began taking in coal, and ordered the 
yards sent down from aloft, and the ship put in trim 
for action. Outside the breakwater, the " Kearsarge " 
was doing the same thing. In armament, the two ves- 
sels were nearly equal; the "Alabama" having eight 
guns to the " Kearsarge's " seven, but the guns of the 
latter vessel were heavier and of greater range. In 
the matter of speed, the " Kearsarge " had a slight 
advantage. The great advantage which the " Kear- 
sarge " had was gained by the forethought of her 
commander, who had chains hung down her sides, 
protecting the boilers and machinery. Semmes might 
easily have done the same thing had the idea occurred 
to him. 

It was on Sunday, June 19, that the "Alabama" 
started out to the duel that was to end in her de- 
struction. Though Sunday was Captain Semmes's lucky 
day, his luck this time seemed to have deserted him. 
The " Alabama " was accompanied in her outward 
voyage by a large French iron-clad frigate. The broad 
breakwater was black with people waiting to see the 
fight. The news had spread as far as Paris, and 
throngs had come down by special trains to view the 
great naval duel. A purple haze hung over the placid 
water, through which could be seen the " Kearsarge," 
with her colors flying defiantly, steaming slowly ahead, 
and ready for the "Alabama" to come up. Small 
steamers on every side followed the " Alabama " as 
near the scene of conflict as they dared. One English 
yacht, the " Deerhound," with her owner's family 
aboard, hung close to the combatants during the fight. 
No duel of the age of chivalry had a more eager 
throng of spectators. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 449 

Now the " Alabama " has passed the three-mile line, 
and is on the open sea. The big French iron-clad 
stops; the pilot-boats, with no liking for cannon-balls, 
stop too. The " Deerhound " goes out a mile or so 
farther, and the " Alabama " advances alone to meet 
the antagonist that is waiting quietly for her coming. 
The moment of conflict is at hand; and Captain Semmes, 
mustering his men on the deck, addresses them briefly, 
and sends them to their quarters; and now, with guns 
shotted, and lanyards taut, and ready for the pull, 
the " Alabama " rushes toward her enemy. When 
within a distance of a mile, the first broadside was let 
fly, without avail. The " Kearsarge," more cool and 
prudent, waits yet awhile; and, when the first shot does 
go whizzing from her big Dahlgren guns, it strikes 
the " Alabama," and makes her quiver all over. 
Clearly it won't do to fight at long range; and Captain 
Semmes determines to close in on his more powerful 
antagonist, and even try to carry her by boarding, as 
in the glorious days of Paul Jones. But the wary 
Winslow of the " Kearsarge " will have none of that; 
and he keeps his ship at a good distance, all the time 
pouring great shot into the sides of the " Alabama." 
Now the two vessels begin circling around each other 
in mighty circles, each trying to get in a raking position. 
The men on the " Alabama " began to find that their 
gunpowder was bad and caky ; while at the same moment 
one of the officers saw two big solid shot strike the 
" Kearsarge " amidships, and fall back into the water, 
revealing the heretofore unsuspected armor. This was 
discouraging. Then came a big shot that knocked over 
the pivot-gun, and killed half its crew. One sailor 
saw a shot come in a port, glide along the gun, and 
strike the man at the breach full in the breast, killing 
him instantly. 

The " Kearsarge," too, was receiving some pretty 



450 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

heavy blows, but her iron armor protected her vulner- 
able parts. One shell lodged in her sternpost, but 
failed to explode. Had it burst, the " Kearsarge's " 
fighting would have been over. 

After an hour the officers of the " Alabama " began 
coming to Captain Semmes with grave faces, and re- 
porting serious accidents. At last the first lieutenant 
reported the ship sinking, and the order was given to 
strike the flag. She was sinking rapidly, and the time 
had come for every man to save himself. The " Kear- 
sarge " was shamefully slow in getting out her boats; 
and finally when the '* Alabama," throwing her bow 
high in the air, went down with a rush, she carried 
most of her wounded with her, and left the living 
struggling in the water. Captain Semmes was picked 
up by a boat from the yacht " Deerhound," and was 
carried in that craft to England away from capture. 
For so escaping, he has been harshly criticized by many 
people; but there seems to be no valid reason why he 
should refuse the opportunity so offered him. Certain 
it is, that, had he not reached the " Deerhound," he 
would have been drowned; for none of the boats of 
the " Kearsarge " was near him when he was struggling 
in the water. 

So ended the career of the " Alabama." Her life 
had been a short one, and her career not the most 
glorious imaginable; but she had fulfilled the purpose 
for which she was intended. She had captured sixty- 
four merchant-vessels, kept a large number of men- 
of-war busy in chasing her from one end of the world 
to the other, and inflicted on American commerce an 
almost irreparable injury. 

The " Alabama " was easily the most famous of the 
Confederate cruisers, but she was not alone among the 
scourges of the sea. Indeed there would have been a 
considerable fleet had not the alertness of United States 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 451 

agents abroad detected many ships building for the 
Confederacy and compelled the intervention of the re- 
sponsible governments. Two iron-clad rams built in 
England were seized by that government. Of six 
splendid vessels built in France only one succeeded in 
getting to sea, becoming the cruiser, " Stonewall," but 
too late in the war to be of service. The biggest 
and best of the foreign built vessels that actually saw 
service was the " Shenandoah," originally an English 
merchant-vessel engaged in the East India trade. 

She was large, fast, and strongly built; and the astute 
agent of the Confederacy knew, when he saw her lying 
in a Liverpool dock, that she was just calculated for 
a privateer. She was purchased by private parties, and 
set sail, carrying a large stock of coal and provisions, 
but no arms. By a strange coincidence, a second vessel 
left Liverpool the same day, carrying several mysterious 
gentlemen, who afterwards proved to be Confederate 
naval officers. The cargo of this second vessel con- 
sisted almost entirely of remarkably heavy cases marked 
" machinery." The two vessels, once out of English 
waters, showed great fondness for each other, and 
proceeded together to a deserted, barren island near 
Madeira. Here they anchored side by side; and the 
mysterious gentlemen, now resplendent in the gray and 
gold uniform of the Confederacy, stepped aboard the 
" Shenandoah." Then the cases were hoisted out of 
the hold of the smaller vessel; and, when the "ma- 
chinery " was mounted on the gun-deck of the " Shen- 
andoah," it proved to be a number of very fine steel- 
rifled cannon. Then the crew was mustered on the 
gun-deck, and informed that they were manning the 
new Confederate ship "Shenandoah"; and with a 
cheer the flag was hoisted at the peak, and the newly 
created ship-of-war started off in search of merchantmen 
to make bonfires of. From Madeira the cruiser made 



452 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

for the Southern Ocean, — a fresh field not yet ravaged 
by any Confederate vessel. This made the hunting all 
the better for the " Shenandoah," and she burned ves- 
sels right and left merrily. In the spring of 1865, 
she put into the harbor of Melbourne, Australia, where 
her officers were lavishly entertained by the citizens. 
Thence she proceeded to the northward, spending some 
time in the Indian Ocean, and skirting the Asiatic 
coast, until she reached Behring Strait. Here she lay 
in wait for returning whalers, who in that season were 
apt to congregate in Behring Sea in great numbers, 
ready for the long voyage around Cape Horn to their 
home ports on the New England coast. Captain Wad- 
dell was not disappointed in his expectations, for he 
reached the strait just as the returning whales were 
coming out in a body. One day he captured eleven 
in a bunch. With one-third his crew standing at the 
guns ready to fire upon any vessel that should attempt 
to get up sail, Waddell kept the rest of his men rowing 
from ship to ship, taking off the crews. Finally all 
the prisoners were put aboard three of the whalers, 
and the eight empty ships were set afire. It was a grand 
spectacle. On every side were the towering icebergs, 
whose glassy sides reflected the lurid glare from the 
burning ships. Great black volumes of smoke arose 
from the blazing oil into the clear blue northern sky. 
The ruined men crowded upon the three whalers saw 
the fruits of their years of labor thus destroyed in an 
afternoon, and heaped curses upon the heads of the men 
who had thus robbed them. What wonder if, in the 
face of such apparently wanton destruction as this, they 
overlooked the niceties of the law of war, and called 
their captors pirates ! 

For two months more Waddell continued his depre- 
dations in the northern seas. Many a stout bark from 
New London or New Bedford fell a prey to his zeal 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 453 

for a cause that was even then lost. For the Con- 
federacy had fallen. The last volley of the war had 
been discharged three months before. Of this Captain 
Waddell was ignorant, and his warlike operations did 
not end until the captain of a British bark told him 
of the surrender of Lee and Johnston, and the end of 
the war. To continue his depredations longer would 
be piracy: so Captain Waddell hauled down his Con- 
federate flag, and heading for Liverpool surrendered 
his ship to the British authorities, by whom it was 
promptly transferred to the United States. 

So ended the last of the Confederate cruisers. Of 
the other notable ones, the " Florida " was lawlessly 
run down and sunk in a neutral port by a United States 
man-of-war, and the " Nashville " was shot to pieces 
by the " Montauk," commanded by Worden of the 
original " Monitor," under the very guns of a Con- 
federate fort. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

Close of the War — The Greatest of All Navies — Its Gradual De- 
cadence — The War with Spain — How the Navy Was Re- 
established — The Destruction of the " Maine " — The Spanish 
Navy — Dewey at Manila. 

When the Civil War ended the United States was 
easily the first naval power of the world. There were 
in commission five hundred and twenty-two vessels rang- 
ing from tugs to iron-clads. Even Great Britain, that 
has long clung to the policy of maintaining a navy ten 
per cent, stronger than the combined navies of any 
two European nations, lagged far behind this force. 
But with peace restored there was no need to maintain 
such colossal fleets. Very properly their reduction was 
begun. Old vessels, prizes, the river gunboats, all 
the lumber of the navy were sold. The personnel 
was reduced. Volunteers were honorably discharged, 
and the number of blue-jackets was so greatly reduced 
that at one time there were fifty-nine officers to each 
ship in commission, and one officer to every five seamen. 
This was in 1882, which may be set as the low-water 
mark of the navy. We had then neither modern ships, 
trained men, nor up-to-date cannon. There were but 
thirty-one ships in commission, of which all but four 
were wooden. Indeed an official report declares that 
in all the navy there was but one high-powered, modern 
gun. History always repeats itself, and just as the 
infant navy of the Revolution was allowed to languish 
until the drumbeat of 18 12 awoke the nation, and the 
navy then built was dissipated until the bugles of '61 
aroused the people to the need of a defensive force 
afloat, so the great force built during the Civil War 

454 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 455 

was gradually dispersed until the navy of the United 
States was a thing for nations to laugh at. To-day it 
ranks second among the navies of the world — Great 
Britain alone leading it in the number of ships. 

What the navy did in the long years of peace be- 
tween 1865 and the outbreak of the war with Spain 
in 1898 need hardly be recounted here. It was an 
era of inaction, given over to a few exploring expedi- 
tions, cruising in foreign waters, and attending to the 
social duties of the representatives of the United States 
government in distant ports. It was emphatically the 
period of dry rot in the United States navy. 

Yet there were fortunately men in public life — 
civilians all — who understood the peril of letting the 
navy go to ruin. One of the first of these was Secretary 
of the Navy WiUiam E. Chandler, who in his report 
of 1882 spoke of the state of the service as follows: 

It is not the policy of the United States to maintain a large 
navy, but its reputation, honor, and prosperity, require that such 
naval vessels as it possesses shall be the best which human ingenuity 
can devise and modern artificers construct. Our present vessels are 
not such and cannot be made such. They should be gradually re- 
placed by. iron or steel cruisers, and allowed to go out of com- 
mission. 

The next Congress provided for the construction of 
four steel vessels of a type then modern, but now of 
course obsolete, for the rapid development of naval 
construction limits the active life of a battleship to 
about ten years. The completion of the ships, under 
the secretaryship of William C. Whitney, left no doubt 
as to the popularity of the navy with the people. 
The " White Squadron " of four unarmored ships, 
none of which would stand the battle test for half an 
hour to-day, visited all the ports of the Atlantic Coast 
and awakened enthusiasm wherever anchor was let fall. 
Thereafter navy appropriation bills found smooth sail- 



456 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Ing In Congress and fortunately so, for scarce ten years 
had elapsed when the United States found itself em- 
broiled In a war with Spain — a war which necessarily 
was settled on the ocean. More by good fortune than 
by any special prescience the United States in Its mo- 
ment of trial had a navy which, if not great, was equal 
to the needs of the nation. 

A short time after the inauguration of WiUiam 
McKInley as President of the United States in March, 
1897, It became apparent that the disordered condition 
of Cuba under Spanish rule was destined Inevitably 
to become an issue which the United States must help 
to settle. For two years a great part of the Island 
had been In open and determined revolt against Spanish 
rule. Though the forces of the king had been able 
to hold the seaports, thus cutting off the insurgents 
from regular communication with the outer world and 
making impotent their efforts to secure recognition from 
foreign powers, the patriots under Maceo and Gomez 
held control of the interior, established a government 
of their own, enforced order, and levied taxes. Enor- 
mous sacrifices were made by the Spanish people to re- 
establish sovereignty in the island. More than three 
hundred thousand troops were sent thither to be cruelly 
cut down by plague and pestilence. A nation, long on 
the verge of bankruptcy, incurred uncomplainingly pro- 
digious additional indebtedness to save for its boy king 
— Alphonso XIII. was at this time but twelve years 
old — its most precious possession in the west, the Pearl 
of the Antilles. Queen Isabella of Spain pawned her 
jewels that Columbus might have the means to press 
his voyage of discovery into unknown seas, but in the 
closing years of the century the people of Spain pawned 
their national assets, put even themselves and their 
posterity in pawn, to hold for Spain the last relics of the 
empire which Columbus won for her. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 457 

Though we were forced to draw the sword upon 
Spain in the cause of humanity and human liberty, the 
man of reason, and of a sense of justice, will not with- 
hold from the people of that sorely chastened nation 
admiration for their loyalty and the sacrifices they made 
in their national cause. 

But the Spanish people were cruelly betrayed by their 
own rulers. The generals whom they sent to Cuba 
gave less thought to the suppression of the insurrection 
than to filling their own pockets. Out of the millions 
and millions of pesetas set aside by an already impov- 
erished people for the needs of war, a great part was 
stolen by generals and by army contractors. The young 
conscripts, sent from Spain to a land where the air is 
pestilential to the unacclimated, were clothed and shod 
in shoddy; their food invited disease, and when they 
fell ill it was found that the greed of the generals had 
consumed the funds that should have provided sufficient 
hospital service. Comparatively few fell before the 
bullets or machetes of the insurgents, but by thousands 
they succumbed to fevers of every kind. Death without 
glory was the hapless lot of the Spanish conscript. 

This almost mediaeval warfare at the very front yard 
of the United States was long a source of continual 
irritation to the American people. The moral sense 
of our nation was shocked by the manner in which Spain 
prosecuted its war upon non-combatants — upon women 
and children. These were gathered in great camps — 
herded together under the guns of the Spanish soldiery, 
and starved. It was estimated, and conservatively, that 
more than five hundred thousand were thus slowly done 
to death. Aside from the moral issue, the American 
people were confronted with positive aggression on the 
part of Spain. Before patience had been stretched to 
the breaking point claims were filed with the United 
States Department of State for Spanish outrages upon 



458 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the lives or property of American citizens aggregating 
sixty millions dollars. But it was not because of Spanish 
spoliations or aggressions that the United States broke 
their long record of peace. 

History in coming ages, however, will relate, to the 
unending honor and glory of the American people, that 
humanitarian considerations, rather than regard for 
imperilled interests, brought the United States into a 
war which most emphatically their people did not desire. 
The great New York newspapers, day by day, printed 
circumstantial accounts of the frightful sufferings in 
Cuba. One journal secured a great number of photo- 
graphs of scenes amid the starving reconcentrados, 
which, greatly enlarged, were publicly exhibited in all 
parts of the Union. These pictures, showing the fright- 
ful distortions of the human body as the result of long 
starvation, showing little children, mere skeletons, look- 
ing mutely down on the dead bodies of their parents, 
brought home to the mind of the people the state of 
life in a neighboring land as no writing, however bril- 
liant, could. A cry went up from every part of the 
United States that a Christian duty was imposed upon 
our nation to interfere for the alleviation of such horrible 
suffering. Charity came to the rescue with free con- 
tributions of provisions, and Congress made a heavy 
appropriation of money for the relief of the Cubans. 
But everywhere the opinion grew that philanthropy 
alone could not right this great wrong, but that the 
strong hand of the United States must reach forth to 
pluck out the Spaniard from the land he ravaged. And 
when a number of Senators and Representatives in 
Congress made journeys to Cuba, and, returning, de- 
scribed in formal addresses at the Capitol the scenes 
of starvation and misery, this opinion hardened into 
positive conviction. 

Then, almost as if planned by some all-knowing 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 459 

power, came a great and inexplicable disaster which 
American intervention inevitable and immediate. 

During the latter years of the Cleveland administra- 
tion the representatives of American interests in Cuba 
urged that a United States ship-of-war should be per- 
manently stationed in Havana harbor. The request 
was reasonable, the act in thorough accord with the 
custom of nations. But, fearing to offend Spain, Pres- 
ident Cleveland avoided taking the step and President 
McKinley for months imitated him. In time this act, 
which in itself could have had no hostile significance, 
came to be regarded as an expression of hostility to 
Spain, and all the resources of Spanish diplomacy were 
exerted to prevent any American warship from entering 
Havana harbor. Ultimately, however, the pressure of 
public opinion compelled the Executive to provide for 
representation of American authority in the disordered 
island, and the battleship " Maine " was sent to 
Havana. 

The night of February 15 the " Maine " lay quietly 
at her anchorage in the Havana harbor. Her great 
white hull, with lights shining brilliantly from the ports 
aft where the officers' quarters were, gleamed in the 
starlight. On the berth deck the men swung sleeping 
in their hammocks. The watch on deck breathed grate- 
fully the cool evening air after the long tropic day. 
Captain Sigsbee was at work in his cabin, and the 
officers in the wardroom were chatting over their games 
or dozing over their books. The lights of the town 
and of the ancient fortress of Morro shone brightly 
through the purpling light. Not far away the Spanish 
man-of-war " Alfonso XIII." lay at her moorings, and 
an American merchantman, brightly lighted, was near. 
The scene was peaceful, quiet, beautiful. True, in the 
minds of many officers and men on the American war- 
ship there was a lurking and indefinable sense of danger. 



46o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Their coming had been taken by the Spaniards in 
Havana as a hostile act. Though all the perfunctory 
requirements of international courtesy had been com- 
plied with, salutes interchanged, visits of ceremony paid 
and returned, there was yet in the Spanish greeting 
an ill-concealed tone of anger. In the cafes Spanish 
officers cursed the Yankees and boasted of their purpose 
to destroy them. On the streets American blue-jackets, 
on shore leave, were jostled, jeered, and insulted. Yet 
the ill-temper of the Spaniards, though apparent, was 
so ill-defined that no apprehension of a positive attack 
was felt. As is the practice on men-of-war, however, 
the utmost vigilance was maintained. Only the em- 
ployment of a boat patrol and the use of torpedo net- 
tings were lacking to give the " Maine " the aspect of 
a ship in an enemy's harbor. 

Then came the disaster that shocked the world. A 
disaster in which it is impossible not to suspect the 
element of treachery. A disaster which if purely acci- 
dental, occurring to a hated ship In a port surrounded 
by men who were enemies at heart, was the most ex- 
traordinary coincidence in history. The story is brief. 
Not until the wreck is raised and the authority of the 
United States is employed to clear up the mystery, can 
the real narrative of the destruction of the " Maine " 
be told. 

This much we know: At about half-past nine those 
on the " Maine " who lived to tell the tale heard a 
sudden dull explosion, with a slight shock, then a pro- 
longed, deep, furious roar, which shook the ship to Its 
very vitals. The people on the other ships in the 
harbor saw the whole forward portion of the " Maine " 
suddenly become a flaming volcano belching forth fire, 
men, huge pieces of steel, and bursting shells. Portions 
of the ship's hull rained down on decks a thousand 
yards away. When the first fierce shock of the ex- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 461 

plosion was past, It was seen that the "Maine" was 
on fire and was rapidly sinking. 

How wonderful Is the power of discipline upon the 
human mind! On the great battleship, with hundreds 
of its men blown to pieces or penned down by steel 
debris to be drowned In the rapidly rising waters, there 
was no panic. Captain SIgsbee, rushing from his cabin 
door, is met by the sergeant of marines who serves 
him as orderly. Not a detail of naval etiquette is 
lacking. Sergeant William Anthony salutes : 

" I have to report, sir, that the ship Is blown up 
and is sinking," he says, as he would report a pilot boat 
In the offing. 

The captain reaches the deck to find his officers 
already at work, the men who have not been Injured 
all at their stations. Boats are lowered and ply about 
the harbor to rescue survivors. Though the flames rage 
fiercely, and the part of the ship which they have not 
yet reached is full of high explosives, there is no panic. 
At the first alarm every man has done what years of 
drill and teaching have taught him to do. The after- 
magazines have been flooded, the boats' crews called 
away. Even preparations for a fight had been at- 
tempted. Lieutenant Jenkins, hearing the first explo- 
sion, sprang so quickly for his station at a forward 
gun that he was caught in the second explosion and 
slain. Though a bolt from heaven or a shock from 
hell had struck the " Maine," It brought death only — 
not fear nor panic. 

The work of rescuing survivors and caring for the 
wounded was pushed apace, for the ship sunk rapidly, 
until only her after-superstructure was above the water. 
Boats from the Spanish man-of-war joined In the work 
of mercy and her officers, as though conscious that the 
suspicion of treachery was first In every man's mind, 
exerted themselves In every way to show solicitude for 



462 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the wounded and sorrow for the disaster. When all 
was done that could be done, and the roll of the ship's 
company was called, it was found that two hundred and 
sixty-six brave Americans were lost in Havana harbor — 
a friendly port. Some lie there yet (1910), penned 
down beneath the gnarled and scorched steel which 
formed the gallant "Maine"; others lie in honored 
graves in the national cemetery at Arlington. 

Even before this disaster the voice of the American 
people, save for a few powerful forces in the financial 
circles of New York, had been for war. Now the war 
spirit could no longer be resisted. The responsible 
government, it is true, was opposed to it. President 
McKinley, who had seen something of war in the cruel 
days of '6i-'65, was above all a man of peace, a gentle, 
amiable personality who strove with all the power and 
prestige of the presidency to avert the storm which could 
not be checked. For the nation believed the destruction 
of the " Maine " and its gallant crew to have been 
the treacherous work of Spaniards. This general con- 
viction was in no wise altered when a Spanish court of 
inquiry presented findings exactly the reverse of those 
of the United States court, declaring the ship had been 
blown up by an explosion of her own magazines. Even 
at this writing, more than a decade after the war, this 
is the view widely held in European naval circles. The 
United States government, through motives presumably 
of parsimony, has not at this date (19 10) raised the 
wreck of the battleship by examination of which alone 
can the circumstances of the case be definitely deter- 
mined. But among the American people there was, 
and is to-day, no doubt as to what sent the " Maine " 
to the ooze of Havana harbor and the demand for 
war could not be withstood. Admiral (then Captain) 
Robley D. Evans expressed the popular view with sub- 
stantial accuracy when he said: 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 463 

" The admiral in command of the United States fleet 
at Key West should have sailed for Havana on getting 
news of the ' Maine's ' destruction. He should have 
reduced the forts, seized the city, discovered the assas- 
sins, and hanged them." 

" But that would have been defiance of the orders 
of the Navy Department," responded his auditor, 
aghast. 

" Perhaps so," admitted Evans, *' but the man who 
did it would have been the next President of the United 
States." 

Even while the " Maine " court of inquiry was in 
session the government was preparing for war. With- 
out a dissenting vote Congress voted fifty million dollars 
to be at the sole command of the President and to be 
expended in preparation for hostilities. Much of this 
was used in strengthening the navy and more would 
have been so expended had there been ships to buy. 
The experience of the Navy Department at this time 
should be a lesson for all time to those who fatuously 
think a navy can be hastily extemporized in time of need. 
With money in plenty the American agents could find 
but two purchasable warships, the property of Brazil, 
and these proved of little service. Not one battleship 
could be bought. Merchant vessels, yachts, and tugs 
were hastily bought and armed, but when the war was 
actually declared its issue would have been doubtful 
had any nation of greater sea power than Spain been 
our adversary. As it was, the situation did not lend 
Itself to confidence on the part of the American people. 
The Spanish navy, on paper, was quite equal or even 
superior to that of the United States and none could 
tell how Inferior It was In marksmanship and morale, 
how It had been undermined and weakened by graft, and 
how utterly unfit It was to enter upon the serious 
activities of war. The foreign reviews at the opening 



464 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of the war were almost a unit in predicting victory for 
the Spanish forces afloat. There was panic along our 
New England coast from the very first days of the war. 
Valuables were hastily packed in the seaboard towns 
and sent to interior points. Imaginary Spanish cruisers 
were seen as plentifully as sea serpents in summer-resort 
time, or German warships in England to-day. But 
this subject may be dismissed with the statement that 
at no time was any American fort or city menaced by 
a Spanish ship, nor did the Spanish navy undertake 
any offensive operations whatsoever. Only two naval 
battles were fought and both of those were won by 
the Americans with so little loss of life as to amaze 
all observers, domestic and foreign. 

War brings its surprises no less than its disasters. 
V^hen on April 25, 1898, the Congress of the United 
States declared a state of war to exist between the 
United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain 
few of the American people imagined that the first blow 
would be struck in far off Asiatic waters where American 
ships were scarcely known, and American interests were 
but trivial. In the Philippine Islands Spain had then, 
one of the great colonies which one flaunted the Spanish 
flag all over the world. More than seven million 
natives were there, in a chronic state of unrest and 
insurrection due to the same sort of Spanish misrule 
that forced the issue in Cuba. 

In the harbor of Hong Kong lay at anchor an Amer- 
ican squadron of six ships under command of Admiral 
George Dewey. The ships were not of a type that 
would gain entrance to a fighting squadron in this day 
of the " Dreadnought " type. Not one battleship, or 
armored ship was on the roll. The most powerful of 
all was the flagship " Olympia," a mere protected 
cruiser. Three cruisers, unprotected, a revenue cutter, 
and a collier made up the total. In all fifty-three great 







,v 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 465 

guns were mounted, eight-inch, six-inch and five-inch 
rifles, while the secondary batteries numbered eighty- 
three guns, from six-pounders down. The admiral in 
command was a veteran of the Civil War who had 
served with Farragut at New Orleans and Mobile. 

In time of peace the war record of a subaltern is 
quickly forgotten and Dewey patiently climbed the 
ladder of promotion until 1898 found him a commodore 
and in command of the Asiatic squadron, without any- 
body's remembering particularly that this officer in far 
Hong Kong had seen fighting and knew how to bear 
himself under fire. It is a significant fact that when 
he had won the first great victory of the war, and the 
newspapers were searching everywhere for stories illus- 
trative of his character, it was discovered that he had 
chiefly impressed himself on the Washington mind by 
his excessive punctiliousness in matters of dress. 

International law prohibits the use of a neutral port 
by the ships of a power at war for more than one day 
at a time, so even had Dewey not received prompt orders 
to act he would have been forced to leave Hong Kong 
within twenty-four hours of the declaration of war. 
But the very dispatch that brought intelligence of the 
declaration brought his orders as well. " Proceed at 
once against the Philippines," it read. " Commence 
operations at once, particularly against the Spanish fleet. 
You must capture vessels or destroy." The day fol- 
lowing the fleet sailed. 

The Spanish force afloat which it had to meet and 
to destroy was vastly inferior. Admiral Montojo had 
two cruisers, eleven gunboats, and twenty-five " mos- 
quito " gunboats, as the smallest craft were called. In 
all they mounted only forty-four guns in their main 
batteries, more than half of which were of but 4.7 inch 
calibre. Their small guns numbered eighty-one. This 
fact makes clear the overwhelming victory which 



466 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Dewey won, but does not detract in the slightest degree 
from his courage in inviting the conflict. For the 
Spanish fleet, weak though it was, lay anchored under 
the batteries at Cavite. To reach it Dewey had to 
pass through the narrow entrance to Manila Bay, com- 
manded by forts with modern guns, and through a 
channel presumably blocked by mines. This last and 
greatest menace was dared by Dewey as calmly as did 
his old commander Farragut at Mobile Bay, when look- 
ing upon the " Tecumseh " sinking before him, he cried 
to his captain, " Damn the torpedoes. Go ahead." 

On the way to the entrance to Manila Bay Dewey had 
read to the men on each ship a bombastic address 
which the Spanish captain-general had delivered to his 
forces. Too long to be quoted in full here, a paragraph 
from it may be of interest as showing the sentiments 
with which Spain entered upon the war in the Far 
East. 

A squadron manned by foreigners, possessing neither instruction 
nor discipline, is preparing to come to this archipelago with the 
ruffianly intention of robbing us of all that means life, honor, and 
liberty. Pretending to be inspired by a courage of which they are 
incapable, the North American seamen undertake, as an enterprise 
capable of realization, the substitution of Protestantism for the 
Catholic religion you profess, to treat you as tribes refractory to 
civilization, to take possession of your riches as if they were un- 
acquainted with the rights of property, and to kidnap those persons 
whom they consider useful to man their ships or to be exploited in 
agricultural or industrial labor. 

Vain designs! Ridiculous boastings! 

On the night of April 30 the American ships arrived 
at the entrance of Manila harbor, unseen by the sentries 
on the forts. It was known that Montojo was inside, 
and every light was extinguished and every noise hushed 
on the Yankee ships, for the admiral had planned a 
midnight entrance to the stronghold. The ships were 
stripped for action, boats covered with canvas, nettings 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 467 

spread to prevent splinters from flying, partitions re- 
moved, and ammunition hoists and bullet shields put up. 
At midnight the entrance to the harbor began, the ships 
steaming In single column at about six knots an hour, 
with the " Olympla " leading. Strangely enough not a 
single torpedo or mine in the channel was exploded, 
though the Spaniards discovered the advance of the 
ships and opened fire from the forts. The first shot 
in answer was fired by a gunner on the " Boston " 
without orders. Pie saw the flash of a gun on a shore 
battery and instantly fired his piece without altering its 
elevation. That dismantled a gun in the Spanish works 
and killed thirty men. 

For a few hours after passing the forts the wearied 
blue-jackets slept at their guns. With the approach 
of day came the signal from the flagship to prepare 
for action. In the gray dawn the Spanish fleet could 
be seen about two miles distant, at such a point that 
their fire could be re-enforced by the guns of the forts. 

A most graphic story of the action that followed, as 
seen from the view-point of " the man behind the gun," 
whom Captain Mahan eulogizes, Is told by Chief Gun- 
ner Evans of the " Boston," from whose narrative I 
quote the following paragraphs : 

We were steaming very slowly, but increasing speed as the dawn 
increased. In the gray daylight we could make out a line of ships 
anchored in front of the city. Then we steamed ahead faster. 
The ships ahead proved to be merchantmen, and at daylight we 
could discern the Spanish fleet further down the bay, and then it 
was " Full ahead ! " The Spanish fleet did not advance to meet 
us, and apparently made no move on the defensive. Possibly our 
audacity had for the moment paralyzed them. But it was not for 
long. In twenty minutes or so they opened a terrific cannonading at 
long range. The batteries and forts around Manila opened fire at 
the same time. Every man on the ship was now wide awake and 
at his post. I knew that it would not be long before there would 
be some hot work, and I served my men with a cup of coffee and a 
piece of hardtack, and a little later gave them each a drink of 
whiskey and water. 



468 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

According to orders, we did not respond to the Spanish guns until 
our ships came into position. Then the flagship opened fire, and 
then I followed with two hours of cannonading which I do not 
believe has ever been equalled in naval warfare. The shots from 
the " Olympia " were the prearranged signal for the other ships 
to do the same. 

We soon discovered that the batteries of Cavite were very heavily 
mounted, and the ordnance included several ten-inch guns, and we 
were not long in finding out that the " Don Antonio de Ulloa " and 
the " Reina Cristina," the flagship, carried much heavier guns than 
we thought. We began to fear that our ships had met their match. 
As hot as the battle was, the heat of the sun was equally so, and I 
had my men who were bringing up the ammunition throw ofif 
every vestige of clothing except their shoes. 

The Spanish guns had opened upon us at 5.10 a.m., and it was 
fully 5.40 before we began to reply. But when we did, we made 
every shot tell, for our gunners demonstrated that their opponents 
were no match for them in accuracy, although the Spaniards had 
every advantage and should have known the exact range of every 
point in the harbor, while of the American fleet not a single gunner 
had ever as much as been in the harbor before. 

By 6.30 we had circled three times, and were starting for the 
fourth when the Spanish admiral came out in the " Reina Cristina " 
and gallantly assailed us ; but we made it hot for him. I don't 
know how in the world he escaped with his life. While he was 
standing on the bridge a shot from one of our ships — I think it 
was the " Concord " — blew the bridge clean over ; in fact, shot it 
right from under him, but the Admiral was apparently uninjured, 
for a few minutes later I saw him walking the deck as calmly as 
though he was on parade. It was getting too hot for him, and he 
evidently saw that his ship was no match for us, and he turned to 
get back to his fleet. 

Just as the " Reina Cristina " swung around an eight-inch shell 
from the port battery, which I was tending, struck her square 
astern, and set her on fire. By this time other gunners had got the 
range, and if ever a ship was riddled it was the " Reina Cristina." 
I do not think it was fifteen minutes from the time the shell from 
the " Boston " struck her when she went down with, it is said, over 
two hundred men. The Admiral, however, had escaped in a small 
boat and made for the " Isla de Cuba," where he again hoisted his 
flag. 

After we had circled five times, we withdrew. The smoke was 
so dense that we could hardly distinguish friend from foe. Our 
men had worked three long hours with scarcely a mouthful of food. 
I had, however, kept my men well supplied with whiskey and water. 
I gave each a small drink about every twenty minutes. 

After we had withdrawn, and the clouds of smoke had lifted 
enough so that we could see. Admiral Dewey signalled the ships to 




w 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 469 

report the number of killed and wounded. It would have done 
your heart good to have heard the shouts and cheers that went up 
as ship after ship ran up the signal to indicate that she had no 
killed and none wounded worth reporting. It was one of the most 
thrilling moments of the entire battle. 

It was a wise move on Admiral Dewey's part in withdrawing at 
that moment, for our men were rapidly becoming exhausted. For 
my own part I do not think I could have held out another half 
hour, and neither could my men. We were not only wearied 
physically, but the nervous strain was something awful. I called my 
men into the gunroom and served each with a good stiff drink of 
whiskey and told them to take all the rest they could get. I went 
into the chartroom, as it was about the coolest place on the ship, 
and threw myself on the chart table. I was too nervous to sleep 
and too exhausted to move. I just lay there sort of dazed. 

Soon after ten o'clock we advanced again, and the " Baltimore " 
opened the fight. As many of the Spanish ships had been disabled, 
what we most feared now was the forts. The " Baltimore " sailed 
right into the very teeth of the guns, any one of which could have 
annihilated her, and only bad marksmanship of the Spanish gunners 
saved her from destruction, and she did not retreat until she had 
practically silenced the fort. 

My ship, the "Boston," was perhaps struck oftener during the 
battle than any of the American ships, but in every instance 
it was small shot or shell, making a glancing blow that did no 
particular harm. After the first hour or so of the battle, if we had 
received a damaging shot, the chances are that we would have all 
gone down, for out of all the ship's boats, only two were of any 
value, the others having been shattered to pieces. 

We were circling in line with the other ships when the " Isla de 
Cuba " swung around to give us a broadside. The guns in the port 
battery got the range on the " Isla de Cuba," and sent in a shot that 
struck in amidships and made her tremble from stem to stern. I 
was watching at the porthole at the time. The other guns of the 
" Boston " followed the example of the port gunner, and for a few 
minutes it seemed that the " Isla de Cuba " was crumbling to pieces 
like a falling building in an earthquake. We turned, and the star- 
board guns did equally good work, and when the Spanish flag came 
tumbling down we let out a yell that was heard around the world, 
figuratively speaking, if not literally. 

I can never forget the scene after the battle. The forts were 
smoking, and scattered all through the bay were the hulks of once 
magnificent Spanish ships. Some were drifting helplessly about, 
as though the men on board seemed not to know what to do and had 
lost their heads entirely. Rigging was trailing in the water and 
only remnants remained of the lifeboats. Over at one end of the 
bay was the wreck of the once magnificent " Reina Cristina." 



470 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Further along were smoking hulks, and here and there could be seen 
only the masts and rigging above water. 

To add to the horror of the scene, hundreds of corpses came float- 
ing by, and it seemed as though the bay was full of dead Spaniards, 
although I believe less than a thousand were killed. I really think 
that the sight in the harbor that afternoon impressed men more with 
the horrors of war than did anything which occurred during the 
actual battle. 

During all the fight my men, except for a little while during the 
interval for breakfast, were stripped to the bare skin and wore only 
their shoes. The thermometer was over one hundred, and to this 
was added the heat of the fire of the guns, until it made one's blood 
fairly boil. 

Outclassed and outfought as they were, the Spaniards 
showed many Instances of conspicuous gallantry. The 
dash of Admiral Montojo into the very forefront of 
the fight in the " Reina Cristina " was magnificent, 
though fatal. He saw that at long range the American 
fire was too much for the lighter Spanish guns and de- 
termined to risk all in an effort to come to closer 
quarters. But the pitiless shells showed him no mercy. 
His ship was destroyed and of her crew of four hun- 
dred and ninety-three only seventy escaped unhurt. 
Transferring his flag to the " Isla de Cuba " the admiral 
fought on undaunted to the end. The captain of one 
of the Spanish ships nailed her flag to the mast, and 
fought until she sank with guns all blazing. 

When all the Spanish ships were destroyed or forced 
to surrender attention was turned to the forts. Those 
on the city's wall very promptly ceased firing when word 
was sent that if they persisted the guns of the fleet 
would be turned on the city itself. The forts at Cavite 
and at the entrance to the bay withstood but a brief 
time the attack of the lesser ships of the American 
fleet, when they hauled down their flags. Before sun- 
down on that Sunday, May ist, 1898, Manila Harbor 
was held by the United States navy and the city was 
at the mercy of the ships. Moreover the victory had 





't-y- 




\ 



*^***='*^"^j>^)(, 




f^ 




FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 471 

been almost bloodless for the Americans. When the 
flagship signalled for reports of casualties, ship after ship 
signalled " no dead " and few reported any wounded. 
Seven only were injured and every American ship was 
in condition to take the sea again In the face of an 
enemy. Of the Spanish ships three were sunk and 
eight burned either by the action of their crews or 
by the shells from Dewey's ships. Three hundred and 
eighty-one Spaniards were killed on the ships and in 
the forts. The victory was overwhelming and ended 
Spain's domination in the Philippines and in Asiatic 
waters forever. 

When the news of this victory reached Washington 
five days later — the Manila cable had been cut and 
messages had to be sent by ship to Hong Kong — the 
Secretary of War, General Alger, called on the Sec- 
retary of the Navy, Mr. Long, to express congratula- 
tions. " General," said the Secretary of the Navy, 
" the navy has done Its part. It is now the army's 
turn." So It proved. For weeks Dewey's fleet re- 
mained In Manila Bay, holding the city tranquil under 
its guns, but making no attempt to occupy it until 
General Wesley Merritt arrived In July. On August 
15th, under cover of a fierce fire from the ships, the 
American troops attacked the walled city and after 
a feeble resistance marched In triumphantly. Then fell 
forever Spanish power in Asiatic lands. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

On the Atlantic Coast — Mobilizing the American Fleet — The Block- 
ade of Cuba — The " Winslow " at Cardenas — Searching for 
Cervera — The Race of the " Oregon " — The " Merrimac " at 
Santiago — Spain's Fleet Destroyed and Spanish Power Ended. 

Although the guns of the war with Spain roared first 
in the far away harbor of Manila, the greater opera- 
tions and the more trying times of the navy came 
along our own Atlantic seaboard. Looking back upon 
the early days of the struggle, and with knowledge now 
of the impotence of Spain, one can but be amused and 
a bit disgusted by the panic which seized upon people 
of coastwise towns and cities. Irrational though it was, 
the panic resulted in splitting the available ships of the 
navy — none too many at best — into two fleets, one for 
home defence against an enemy who never sighted our 
coasts, the other for cruising in the Gulf and the Carib- 
bean and for blockading the ports of Cuba and Porto 
Rico. It was clear at Washington that the war must 
be fought on our side of the Atlantic. European senti- 
ment, particularly on the Continent, was distinctly un- 
friendly to the United States. A mere bombardment 
and capture of Spanish forts by our ships, without sol- 
diers to hold them or to carry the war into the interior 
would have been resented by all Europe and might 
have won powerful allies for our foe. But to take an 
expedition of one hundred thousand troops across the 
tossing Atlantic, land them on a hostile coast, and main- 
tain them three thousand miles from any base save such 
a Spanish port as the navy might capture was obviously 
a perilous programme. Spain in accepting the chal- 

472 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 473 

lenge to fight on this side of the ocean showed no 
superior courage, but merely availed herself of facilities 
she possessed. Her army was already in Cuba. There 
she possessed ports heavily fortified where her ships 
might refit in safety. Porto Rico too was hers, to serve 
as a stopping point for her ships after the long trans- 
atlantic voyage. 

When war was declared the roster of the United 
States naval ships in Atlantic waters showed one hundred 
and seventy-seven vessels of which four were battleships, 
two armored cruisers, six monitors, twelve protected 
cruisers, and three unprotected cruisers. The rest were 
a mixed lot of craft ranging from great transatlantic 
liners transformed into cruisers, down to converted 
yachts and tug boats. Because of the widespread panic 
along our northern Atlantic coast the really effective 
fighting force was divided into two squadrons, one the 
Flying Squadron, being stationed at Hampton Roads 
and charged with the duty of detecting and destroying 
any Spanish expedition which should attempt to attack 
any portion of our coastwise territory. But most of 
the more powerful vessels were ordered to Key West 
there to await the formal declaration of war. When 
that action was taken by Congress there were in that 
harbor the battleships " Iowa " and " Indiana," the 
monitors " Amphitrite," " Terror," and " Puritan," the 
armored cruiser " New York " and unarmored cruisers 
" Cincinnati," " Detroit," " Nashville," " Marblehea'd " 
and " Montgomery," beside five gunboats and six 
torpedo boats. The wait had been long, for the ships 
had been gathered in the harbor of the arid, sandy little 
island for many weary weeks. It was as ill-fitted a spot 
for a naval rendezvous as could well be found. The 
harbor was so shallow that the battleships could not 
enter, but had to lie at anchor seven miles in the offing. 
Water had to be brought from the mainland, and fresh 



474 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

provisions were at a premium. Pent up here the navy 
chafed under Inaction. When the " Maine " was blown 
up all felt that the leashes would be slipped, but only 
more delay followed. Even when orders came for 
active service on the 22nd of April they were greeted 
with a sigh, for instead of a dash at the enemy's 
capital or even a vigorous attack on the forts defending 
it, the most wearisome service of all was ordered, namely 
the blockade. 

Throughout the war and even for some time there- 
after there was a general public discontent that the 
navy in Cuban waters did not emulate Farragut at 
New Orleans and Mobile, or Dewey at Manila, by 
making an attack on the forts at Havana and Santiago 
and capturing the two cities. It was not widely known 
that this was exactly the plan which Admiral Sampson 
— cool-headed a commander as he was — submitted to 
the Navy Department. He believed that the batteries 
at Havana were vulnerable, and that a successful blow 
struck there twenty-four hours after the declaration 
of war would end the whole conflict. But the plan was 
rejected, first because no army was in readiness to 
occupy the city if taken, and second, because the loss 
or crippling of even one United States battleship with 
Spain's squadron still within a fortnight's steaming of 
our coasts would have been dangerous. Another reason 
not formally given but well understood, was the hostility 
of Europe which made it vital to save every ship we 
had ready for instant service. So Sampson's fighting 
plan was set aside and the tamer, but no less efficient, 
blockade was substituted. The eager navy officers and 
the people of the United States were not the only ones 
who were disappointed by this decision. Its wisdom 
was shown by the later utterances of high Spanish offi- 
cials. "They," (the Americans) wrote a Spanish cap- 
tain of artillery in Cuba, " realized that owing to our 




IN THE TURRET: LOAD ONE! 




IN THE lURRET: LOAD TWO! 




IN THE TURRET: LOAD THREE 



Courtesy of Collier's IVeelcly 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 475 

lack of naval power, the island of Cuba, separated 
from Spain by a long distance, and without direct means 
for supporting its army and people as a result of the 
agricultural conditions, could be easily cut off and re- 
duced to starvation without much effort or bloodshed. 
. . . It would have been of good effect if we had 
compelled the enemy to engage in a battle against 
Havana. A victory there would have cost them much 
time and blood." But both the Spaniards and the too 
eager Americans were disappointed and the blockade 
was ordered. 

There is little exciting about the history of a blockade 
to the men engaged in it. The constant vigilance, the 
frequent pursuit of strange ships, and the occasional 
capture of a prize lend zest to the service. But in this 
blockade of Cuba prizes were few and far between. 
Its warlike value rested not in what was done on the 
ocean, but rather in its effect on those on land. What 
that effect was may be fairly guessed from the narrative 
of a neutral visitor to Havana, Commander Jacobsen 
of the foreign cruiser " Geier," who wrote: 



Wc returned to Havana August ist. Few changes were visible in 
the city itself. There was not as yet an actual famine, but the poorer 
classes were evidently much worse off than they had been on our 
former visit, for the number of beggars in the streets had increased. 
Crowds of poor people would come alongside the ships in boats to 
get something to eat. . . . "If the Americans would only attack 
Havana," the people would say, "they would soon find out what 
the garrison of the capital is made of. They would get their heads 
broken r|utck enough. But Uncle Sam is only beating about the 
bush. He is not going to swallow the hot morsel and burn his 
tongue and stomach." No wonder that the Spanish troops, con- 
demned to inactivity, poorly fed, cut off from the whole world, and 
without prospect of relief, were anxious for the end to come. . . . 
But I have information from reliable sources that on August 12th 
the military administration of Havana had provisions on hand for 
three months longer. But what use would have been a further 
resistance on the part of the Spanish garrison? The United States 
government only needed to make the blockade more rigid. That 



476 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

would necessarily have sealed the fate of Havana sooner or later. 
A fortress in the ocean, cut off from the mother country, can be 
rescued only with the assistance of the navy. The enemy who has 
control of the sea need only wait patiently until the ripe fruit drops 
into his lap. 

History justified the wisdom of the Administration in 
refusing to risk ships or men at Havana. In the end 
the Spanish capital was taken without the loss of a life. 
But while the blockade was in progress there were some 
spirited engagements, the story of which is worth the 
telling. 

The first of these was a gallant dash into the harbor 
of Cardenas on the northern shore of Cuba. Four 
United States ships were engaged, the " Machias," 
*' Wilmington," " Hudson," and the little torpedo boat 
" Winslow." It may be mentioned in passing that 
one of the curiosities of the Cuban blockade was the 
use of torpedo boats as blockaders — a service for which, 
because of their small size and limited coal capacity, 
they were utterly unfitted. The Cardenas harbor is 
almost circular in shape, and very shallow, so that the 
larger vessels among the American blockaders were un- 
able to go far within it. But from Cubans it was 
learned that three Spanish gunboats were inside and 
after vainly trying to lure them out it was determined 
to go in and destroy them. The enterprise was not 
without danger. The main channel was mined and im- 
passable, but a secondary channel was traced out by 
soundings and successfully passed by three of the ships — 
the *' Machias " being too large to enter. Progress 
into the harbor was slow, the lead being cast continually 
to determine whether there was water enough for the 
" Wilmington." Finally that ship was forced to halt 
about one mile from the shipping along the city front. 
Amid the forest of masts of small vessels at the wharves 
the gunboats could not be picked out, and as it was 




IN THE TURRET: LOAD FOUR! 




"TRAIN ON THE ENEMY" 




"READY, FIRE ! " 



Cuurlesy of CoHitr'a \1t(i!ll 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 477 

the policy of the navy throughout the war to avoid the 
wanton destruction of private property, the little " Wins- 
low," drawing but six feet of water, was sent in to pick 
them out. The commander of the " Winslow," Lieu- 
tenant Bernadou, had a reputation for daring verging 
almost upon recklessness. Only a few days before he 
had run in so close to the entrance of Cardenas harbor 
that he narrowly escaped destruction or capture by the 
very gunboats he was now to spy out. And so on this 
occasion instead of merely seeking the location of the 
gunboats Lieutenant Bernadou dashed into an encounter 
with a superior force that quickly put his vessel out of 
commission, and resulted in the death of the only line 
officer killed during the whole war. The " Winslow " 
was a mere pigmy in a fight — built for speed and de- 
signed to let slip her deadly torpedoes and then run 
for safety. But at Cardenas she dashed into battle 
with all the confidence of a battleship. Her sides were 
not merely vulnerable to shells, but to the bullets from 
Mauser rifles with which the Spanish forces were armed. 
Her errand was to locate and engage three gunboats, 
any one of which was superior to her in power, and 
which were further aided by land batteries and by 
sharpshooters in the houses of the town. The 
" Winslow " was armed only with three one-pounder 
rapid fire guns. Her crew were protected neither 
below nor on deck. Even the conning tower was of 
such light metal that the enemy's shots entered it 
readily and almost perforated the plates of the oppo- 
site side. 

Heading for the city's wharves where he felt sure 
of finding the gunboats, Bernadou saw a row of buoys 
bearing red flags that appeared to, and did indeed, mark 
the channel. But they had a more sinister purpose as 
he was destined to discover quickly, for hardly had 
he swung his little craft into the lane thus marked when 



478 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

a battery near the town opened fire upon him with an 
accuracy that showed the flags were there to mark the 
range. The very second shot pierced the " Winslow's " 
bow, cutting the steering chains and leaving her un- 
manageable under the enemy's guns. Then the gun- 
boats opened fire, and one of their first missiles wounded 
Bernadou seriously, but bandaging his hurt he rushed 
aft to get the hand steering gear in order. By this time 
the shells were falling fast, for the torpedo boat lay in 
a zone of which the enemy had the exact range, and 
was powerless to move out of it as one boiler was 
wrecked and one engine disabled. It was while the 
ship's people were trying to operate with the one re- 
maining engine that a shell fell among a group gathered 
amidships, killing Ensign Worth Bagley and danger- 
ously wounding several seamen. One man was knocked 
overboard by the concussion but hauled aboard again 
unhurt. 

By this time the torpedo boat was thoroughly out of 
commission but her flag was flying defiantly and no 
thought of surrender entered the minds of her defenders. 
In the distance the " Wilmington," unable to render 
assistance because of the shoal water, was pounding 
away at the forts with her four-inch rifles, while the 
tug " Hudson " was steaming up to take the disabled 
" Winslow " in tow. After repeated efforts the rescue 
was successfully effected and the torpedo boat with her 
crew of five dead and many wounded was towed to 
safety, while the " Wilmington " took savage revenge 
upon the town with her heavy shells. Curiously 
enough in this utterly trivial action there were more 
sailors of the United States killed than in the 
epoch-making victories of Dewey at Manila and 
the later triumphs of Sampson and Schley at San- 
tiago. 

To the events which led up to the latter battle we 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 479 

may properly proceed without giving further attention 
to the incidents of the blockade. Good service was 
done by the navy all along the Cuban coast and at 
Porto Rico, but the attention of the country and of its 
naval defenders was centred upon the Spanish fleet 
then mysteriously making its way to our side of the 
Atlantic. It will be increasingly difficult as the years 
go by to understand the dread and positive trepidation 
with which the people of the United States received the 
reports of the movements of this phantom fleet. His- 
tory now records that its admiral in command knew it 
to be in no condition for the battle and hardly for sea. 
Its annihilation at the hands of the Yankee blue-jackets 
showed how well justified were Cervera's apprehensions. 
But on paper it was seemingly formidable. Once at 
sea, in the days before wireless telegraphy, its movements 
could not be traced and where it might strike none 
could tell. 

The fleet, in fact, which Spain assembled at the Cape 
Verde Islands before the declaration of war consisted 
of the armored cruisers " Cristobal Colon," " Vizcaya," 
" Infanta Maria Teresa " and " Almirante Oquendo " 
and three torpedo boat destroyers, " Furor," " Terror," 
and '* Pinton," two torpedo boats and two colliers. It 
was reported that the battleship " Pelayo " and the 
armored cruiser " Carlos V." were to be added to this 
fleet, in which event it would have been more than a 
match for either of the two fleets into which the Amer- 
ican naval force in the Atlantic had been divided. But 
how far it was from being fit for the struggle is accu- 
rately Indicated by letters from Cervera written just 
before the war in which he said: 



My fears are realized. The conflict is coming fast upon us ; and 
the " Colon " has not received her big guns ; the " Carlos V " has 
not been delivered, and her lo-cm. artillery is not yet mounted ; 
the " Pelayo" is not ready, for want of finishing her redoubt, and I 



48o STORY OF OUR NAVY 

believe, her secondary battery; the "Victoria" has no artillery, and 
of the " Numancia " we had better not speak. . . . 

You talk about plans, and, in spite of all my efforts to have some 
laid out, as it was prudent, my desires have been disappointed. How 
can it be said that I have been supplied with everything I ask for? 
The " Colon " has not yet her big guns, and I asked for the bad ones 
if there were no others. The 14-cm. ammunition, with the exception 
of about three hundred shots, is bad. The defective guns of the 
" Vizcaya " and " Oquendo " have not been changed. The cartridge- 
cases of the " Colon " cannot be recharged. We have not a single 
Bustamente torpedo. There is no plan or concert, which I so much 
desired and called for so often. The repairs of the servomotors 
of the " Infanta Maria Teresa " and the " Vizcaya " were only made 
after they had left Spain. . . . The " Vizcaya " can no longer 
steam, and she is only a boil in the body of the fleet. 

But what Cervera knew was unknown to the American 
navy or to the people of the United States, and when 
on April 29th the Spanish fleet disappeared from the 
harbor of St. Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands there 
was wide perplexity as to the point at which he would 
strike. But by a simple process of reasoning the naval 
experts figured that Cervera would run for some Spanish 
port in the West Indies. By the time he could reach 
our coast his coal would be too nearly exhausted for him 
to risk a battle — for the modern man-of-war is more re- 
stricted in its cruising area than the old-time sailing 
line-of-battle ship that could keep the sea for a year 
touching only for water. Of Cuban ports the naval 
experts eliminated Havana because there Cervera 
would be within ninety miles of the American naval 
base and exposed to a superior force. Once in the 
harbor he could easily be blockaded and would cease 
to be a factor in the war. San Juan, in Porto Rico, 
and Cienfuegos and Santiago on the southern coast of 
Cuba were finally settled upon as the probable ports of 
refuge for the Spaniards with the chances largely In 
favor of the latter. How accurately the naval strat- 
egists gauged the tactics of the enemy was curiously 
shown by a book written after the war by Captain 



■t f 







BOMBARDMENT OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, MAY 13, 1898 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 481 

Concas of the " Infanta Maria Teresa," and Cervera's 
chief of staff. 

" The only harbors," he writes, " which we could 
enter, were: First, San Juan, which we had to discard 
altogether, because, as the United States admiral has 
said, with good reason, he could have taken it whenever 
he pleased. Second, Havana, which we supposed to be 
well guarded, and it was indeed, since the Americans 
have since said that it was considered highly improbable 
that we should attempt to enter Havana, and it must 
be understood that it was better guarded by the squad- 
rons at a distance than those near by, because, in spite 
of the blockade, it would have been difficult to prevent 
ships, whether injured or not, from placing themselves 
under the protection of the batteries of the city, while 
an encounter at a distance from Havana meant the total 
destruction of our squadron. Third, Cienfuegos, which 
we also supposed guarded, especially since our squadron 
having been sighted from the southward, it was from 
here that our passage to Havana could be most effectu- 
ally cut off; moreover, this harbor, situated at the head 
of Cazones Bay, is a veritable rat-trap, very easy to 
blockade, and from which escape is more difficult than 
from any other harbor of the island. We knew there 
were torpedoes there, but no fortifications to amount 
to anything, and, moreover, the entrance is very 
difficult to defend against a serious attack from the 
sea. 

" On the other hand, we were twelve hundred and 
fifty miles distant from the latter harbor, while from 
Havana, or Dry Tortugas, and Key West, the enemy's 
base of operations, they had to make a run of only 
five hundred miles to cut us off. For this reason, 
Cienfuegos harbor was not seriously considered by us 
at that time. Later, when starvation stared us in the 
face at Santiago de Cuba, the former harbor was thought 



482 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of as a possible solution, but not on the day of our 
arrival at Martinique. 

" There remained as the only solution going to 
Santiago de Cuba, the second capital of the island, which 
we had to suppose, and did suppose, well supplied with 
provisions and artillery in view of the favorable con- 
ditions of the harbor entrance. Moreover, the southern 
coast of the island offered chances of sortie on stormy 
days and an open sea for operations, after we had re- 
fitted and made repairs. But as we also supposed that 
the fortifications there were not sufllicient to afford us 
much support in the sortie, it was not at that time 
decided to go to said harbor in the hopes of a solution 
which would permit us to force our way into Havana 
harbor. The distance from Martinique to Santiago 
is about nine hundred and fifty miles, so that the hostile 
squadron, which was at San Juan, could easily have 
arrived there ahead of us. But we never believed that 
it would do so, thinking that Admiral Sampson — 
though it has since come to light that he did not know 
of our arrival — would do what he actually did, namely, 
cover the remotest possibility, the entrance to the only 
fortified point, Havana." 

But ignorant of the Spanish tactical pjans and even 
of the present whereabouts of the enemy, the United 
States fleet could only search the high seas with swift 
scouts, and peer curiously into suspected harbors. To 
the latter end Admiral Sampson with two battleships, 
two monitors, and three cruisers was ordered to San 
Juan to engage the batteries there and discover whether 
Cervera had slipped into the harbor. It was a futile 
expedition — the monitors, capable of only eight knots 
an hour, had to be towed, delaying the progress of the 
fleet and every now and then breaking loose to the 
positive danger of the ship towing them. When the 
forts were being bombarded the news reached Wash- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 483 

ington that Cervera was at Curagao, off the coast of 
Venezuela, but of this Sampson could get no word. 
After bombarding the forts with the result of silencing, 
but not demolishing them, he satisfied himself there 
were no warships in the harbor and set out on the weary 
return to Key West. There they found inspiriting 
news and new company. Cervera had been sighted and 
was now in Caribbean waters. Freed from the appre- 
hension of any attack on the North Atlantic coast the 
"flying squadron" under Commodore Winfield Scott 
Schley had been ordered from Hampton Roads and was 
then at Key West. The quarry had been sighted and 
the pack of dogs of war intent on its capture had been 
doubled. 

With this largely increased force under his command 
Sampson at once began the search for Cervera. The 
" St. Paul," a converted liner and the fastest ship in 
the squadron, was sent out to scout on the south coast 
of Cuba, whither too went Schley with the " Brooklyn," 
" Massachusetts," " Texas," and " Iowa." Sampson 
himself with the " New York," " Indiana," the moni- 
tors " Puritan," " Miantonomah " and " Amphitrite," 
and the cruisers " Montgomery," " Detroit " and " Cin- 
cinnati " went to mount guard in St. Nicholas channel. 
But while the two fleets were preparing to leave Key 
West Cervera came up from the southward and slipped 
into the harbor at Santiago, there to lie snugly con- 
cealed behind the hills while the high seas were being 
ransacked in the search for him. 

Out of Commodore Schley's cruise along the south 
shore of Cuba before the enemy was finally located grew 
one of the hottest controversies that ever racked the 
navy with dissension. History will forget it, remem- 
bering only that it was Schley who finally and definitely 
located Cervera in Santiago, that he was the ranking 
officer in the battle which ended in the destruction of 



484 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the Spanish fleet, and that the one man killed on the 
American side in that historic action stood within speak- 
ing distance of Schley on the bridge of the " Brooklyn." 
But the charge was freely made that throughout the 
search for Cervera the commodore showed vacillation 
and Indecision and it is but the record of history that 
the naval authorities at Washington and a great number 
of officers on the fleet believed it well founded. 

The first orders sent by Sampson to Schley directed 
him to blockade Cienfuegos. A day later another order 
was sent — he had In the meantime gone far on his 
voyage — ordering that unless he found the enemy in 
Cienfuegos, he should leave one light vessel there to 
blockade and proceed with his remaining ships to San- 
tiago where the Spaniards would probably be found. It 
took three days for Schley to satisfy himself that the 
Spaniards were not at the first port, which, like many 
Cuban harbors, was landlocked with high hills, prevent- 
ing any view of the city's front. But most of the men 
on the American fleet thought that the foe was within. 
A correspondent on the " Texas " reported that from 
the lookout perch on that ship he saw a gray funnel 
and several masts rising above the screen of hills. Schley 
himself saw great quantities of smoke. In the harbor 
and, before reaching it, heard firing that suggested 
salutes to the arriving Spanish ships. But In time 
communication was established with friendly Cubans on 
shore who reported no warships within. Immediately 
the fleet started for Santiago. About thirty miles from 
that port it met the scouts " Minneapolis," " St. Paul " 
and " Yale," the captains of which were firm In the 
belief that the Spaniards were there, though none had 
seen them. Then followed the error of judgment that 
cost Schley dear in the confidence and estimation of 
members of his profession. Instead of continuing on 
to Santiago, establishing the blockade as ordered, and 








k.-. 





J M- 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 485 

determining accurately if the enemy was there, he sig- 
nalled the Heet to return to Key West. His explanation 
was that certain of the ships needed coal and that the 
weather was too rough to load from colliers in the open 
sea. But before he could carry his purpose into effect 
peremptory orders from the Department sent him back 
to Santiago, where within an hour of its arrival the little 
gunboat " Marblehead " steamed to the mouth of the 
harbor and clearly made out the Spanish fleet within. 
" Some of us," wrote Captain Evans of the " Iowa," 
" remembering the fate of Admiral Byng, felt that if 
Cervera was really in Santiago, and got one of his 
ships away and on to the coast of the United States while 
we were tinkering at the machinery of a collier, the 
world might be startled by another dreadful court 
martial sentence." 

Convinced of the presence of the enemy Schley began 
the blockade. At the very outset there was an admir- 
able chance to destroy the " Christobal Colon," Cer- 
vera's heaviest ship, but no advantage was taken of it. 
The Spanish battleship lay anchored right athwart the 
entrance to the harbor, under the guns of the fort 
indeed, but in such a position that the guns of the 
entire American fleet could be concentrated on her. 
It is true that Schley's orders were to blockade, not to 
give battle, but so enticing a chance to annihilate an 
enemy's battleship could surely have justified acting be- 
yond orders. But two days after his arrival the commo- 
dore ordered the fleet to steam in within seven thousand 
yards — practically four miles — and open fire on the 
" Colon." The bombardment was continued for fifty- 
five minutes without injury to either side, though the 
forts responded with spirit to the American fire. Here 
again Schley has been criticized by officers of his fleet 
for not coming to closer quarters with the " Colon " 
when she was alone against three of our vessels, two 



486 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of them being her superiors. But it is fair to recall 
that the strength of the batteries had not yet been 
developed and that every order from the Navy Depart- 
ment had laid stress upon the injunction that the safety 
of our battleships must not be imperilled. The day 
before this skirmish Sampson had asked Washington 
to order him to Santiago, where, as he said, he could 
maintain the blockade indefinitely. On June ist he 
arrived at the scene with the flagship " New York," the 
battleship " Oregon," and the converted yacht " May- 
flower." Day by day thereafter the blockading squad- 
ron was increased until the Spaniards were securely 
*' bottled up " by a force vastly their superior. 

Before touching upon the story of the blockade, a 
few words about one of the vessels that figured in it, 
and in the battle ending it, will be worth while. The 
battleship " Oregon " of twelve thousand tons displace- 
ment, was in San Francisco when war became certain. 
Clearly she was needed on the Atlantic coast and, nearly 
a month before the declaration of war she started on 
a race of fourteen thousand, seven hundred miles, 
around the tempestuous Cape Horn, to the scene of 
probable battle. It was a feat such as no battleship 
had ever before attempted, and it was accomplished with 
complete success. If it was outdone by the later voyage 
of sixteen United States battleships around the world, 
let us remember that the " Oregon " was the first of 
heavy armored vessels to undertake such a voyage, that 
it was made under racing speed, and In tirrie of war 
when constant vigilance was necessary. There was the 
possibility of encountering the Spanish fleet off Brazil, 
and at various points hostile torpedo boats were re- 
ported. The ship was ready for action at every mo- 
ment after reaching the Atlantic, while during the pas- 
sage through the turbulent and tortuous Strait of Magel- 
lan there was constant apprehension lest some torpedo 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 487 

boat lurking in one of the many bays and inlets let 
slip her deadly projectile — the one almost certain 
menace to a battleship. It appeared after the war that 
the Spanish authorities had no knowledge of the coming 
of the " Oregon," and it was further shown that the 
state of Cervera's fleet was such that the United States 
ship would have been a match for all of the enemy at 
once. But Captain Clark knew nothing of these facts. 
The sixty-eight days of his voyage were a constant 
strain upon him from which he suffered a permanent 
nervous breakdown. How stoutly the ship Avas built 
and how well handled was shown by the fact that after 
her more than two months of racing she went directly 
to the front and into battle without a day in a drydock, 
or an hour lost in repairs. 

This then was the battleship that the arrival of 
Sampson added to the blockading fleet at Santiago. 
With the " Oregon " the United States force was vastly 
superior to that of Cervera even had the Spanish vessels 
been in condition for effective service, which most em- 
phatically they were not. With Sampson's arrival the 
blockade became stricter. Instead of lying some ten 
miles out at sea the ships lay so close in shore that the 
Spanish sentries could hear the cries of the sentries 
aboard. After the war Cervera wrote of this blockade : 

It was absolutely impossible to go out at night, he wrote, " because 
in this narrow channel, illuminated by a dazzling light, we could not 
have followed the channel and would have lost the ships, some by 
running aground, others by colliding with their own companions. 
But. even supposing that we had succeeded in going out, before the 
first ship was outside we should have been seen and covered from 
the very first with the concentrated fire of the whole squadron." 

When the blockade was perfected it was maintained 
upon the following plan: The fleet was divided into 
two squadrons with Sampson in supreme command 
and Schley directing one. The latter squadron was 



488 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

made up of the " Brooklyn," " Massachusetts," 
"Texas," " Marblehead," and "Vixen"; the other 
of the " New York," " Iowa," " Oregon," " New Or- 
leans," " Mayflower," and " Porter." The ships lay 
in an arc of a circle of which Morro Castle formed 
the centre. At night they were drawn in to within 
two miles of the enemy's guns, and by day never more 
than four miles in the offing. At night too they were 
reinforced by numbers of launches, dispatch boats, and 
small gunboats that plied continually back and forth 
before the harbor's mouth watching lest a torpedo boat 
should slip out in the darkness. But there was not 
much darkness permitted. The searchlights were at 
all times glaring upon the entrance to the harbor. 
Their steady glare dazzled the sentinels and gunners 
in the forts and would have made it impossible for any 
pilot to bring a vessel out through the narrow and 
tortuous channel. As the days wore by Admiral Samp- 
son sent his heavy ships even closer inboard at night. 
Captain Evans, in command of the " Iowa," tells in 
his book, " The Sailor's Log," the story of this serv- 
ice and of the strain which it imposed upon those per- 
forming it: 

The plan of using searchlights was perfectly carried out and 
originated, no doubt, with Sampson himself. I was the first one to 
carry out his orders in this respect, and I shall never forget my 
sensations as I did it. The " Iowa " was well in toward the land 
when the " New York " steamed in near me and the admiral hailed 
and said : " At dark, I wish you to go in and turn a searchlight on 
the channel." "How near shall I go, sir?" I replied. "Go in until 
you can detect a small boat crossing in front of the Punta Gorda 
battery," came back through the megaphone. " How long shall I 
remain there, sir?" I asked. "All night, sir." "Ay, ay, sir." 
The admiral certainly had given me a new sensation. The idea of 
deliberately placing a battleship within a mile or two of the fastest 
torpedo boats in the world, and then turning on a searchlight to 
mark her position, was novel at least. All writers on the subject 
had advised sending such valuable ships to sea at night to keep the 
torpedo boats away from them ; but Sampson had thought rapidly 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 489 

and accurately, and had gauged the features of this special case most 
admirably, as the result showed. 

At dark that night I steamed the " Iowa " in for this new duty, 
and, when I reached what I supposed to be the proper position, 
turned on the searchlight and stopped the engines. All hands were 
at quarters, guns loaded, and everything ready to return the fire I 
felt sure would be opened on us. As the ship lost way and came 
to a standstill in the water, I examined carefully the channel with 
my glasses and concluded that 1 was not yet near enough to insure 
the work I was ordered to do. I therefore shut off the light and 
again steamed in, and when I stopped the second time, the beam of 
the searchlight showed up everything very distinctly. The sentries 
on the Morro could be seen plainly as they pulled their hats 
down over their eyes as a protection against the glare. The infantry 
fired spitefully with their Mausers without doing any harm, but the 
batteries remained silent, which has always been a great surprise and 
puzzle to all of us. They could have shot the searchlight out of us 
without doubt if they knew the first principles of pointing guns. 
Maybe they knew there were a lot of searchlights in that fieet and 
it would be a hard job to put them all out. 

After the first night, three battleships — the " Iowa," " Oregon," 
and " Massachusetts " — were detailed to do searchlight duty, and 
there was never a minute at night, until the Spanish fleet was 
destroyed, when the channel was not so lighted that it was im- 
possible for anything to move on the water without being seen. The 
duty was well done, and only those who did it know how hard it 
was or how great the strain. As a rule the darkness was intense, 
and between the battleships and the shore were guard boats and 
picket launches which would be endangered if their position were 
disclosed, and as a consequence the beam of the searchlight had to 
be accurately held on the channel. To do this when the heavy swell 
and the strong tide were cutting the ship about was more difficult 
than the average person would imagine. It was beautiful to see the 
accuracy with which these great ships were handled as they came in 
or went out of position with twenty-five or thirty vessels crowded 
about them and not a light on any of them. During all the time we 
were there the paint was not even scratched on one of them by 
collision. 

It may be noted in passing that there was as little 
desire on the part of the Spaniards to leave the harbor, 
as there was on that of their watchers to free them. 
Admiral Cervera, on being asked by the Governor- 
General of Cuba what would be the probable result 
of a sortie, wrote : 



490 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

I, who am a man without ambitions, without mad passions, believe 
that whatever is most expedient should be done, and I state most 
emphatically that I shall never be the one to decree the horrible and 
useless hecatomb which will be the only possible result of the sortie 
from here by main force, for I should consider myself responsible 
before God and history for the lives sacrificed on the altar of vanity, 
and not in the true defence of the country. 

But while it was the opinion of the navy that a 
concerted attempt on the part of the whole Spanish 
fleet to escape would result in its destruction, there was 
always danger that one vessel might slip out at night 
or in thick weather and ravage some section of the 
United States coast. To avert this it was determined 
to block the channel by sinking a useless vessel in it. 
The ship chosen was the collier " Merrimac," one of 
those worthless ships that thrifty patriots sold the 
United States for twice their value, and a young naval 
constructor. Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hobson, was 
detailed to prepare her for the sacrifice. The job was 
done speedily and Hobson, who had placed the torpedoes 
that were to send the hulk to the bottom, pleaded so 
hard for permission to take her into the harbor himself, 
though not a line officer, that Sampson acquiesced. Six 
volunteers were called for from the fleet. Some six 
hundred responded. Seven in fact accompanied Hob- 
son, for one man secreted himself on the " Merrimac " 
only appearing when it was too late to be sent back to 
the fleet. It was no light errand on which these men 
were bent. To make the blocking of the channel 
effective they must take their craft past the batteries, 
through the hail of Mauser bullets and into a field of 
mines. They must explode their own torpedoes, sink 
the ship beneath their feet, and escape from a bullet 
swept sea by swimming or in rafts. But all went 
cheerfully, even gaily. 

It was just before daybreak on the 3rd of June 
that the " Merrimac " put forth, followed by a launch 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 491 

commanded by Ensign J. W. Powell to pick up the 
survivors. Scarcely was the first battery within range 
when the flood of fire and hail of missiles began. The 
ship was hit repeatedly, but the men lying flat on the 
deck escaped hurt. When the desired point was 
reached effort was made to touch off the torpedoes that 
hung along her sides, but the electrical connections had 
been cut by the enemy's shells and only three exploded, 
a fact fatal to the complete success of the enterprise 
for the ship, instead of sinking with a plunge, went 
down but slowly and was swung by the tide to one 
side of the channel she was intended to block. Hobson 
thus describes what followed: 

We were all aft, lying on the deck. Shells and bullets whistled 
around. Six-inch shells from the " Vizcaya " came tearing into 
the " Merrimac," crashing clear through, while the plunging shots 
from the fort broke through her decks. 

" Not a man must move," I said ; and it was only owing to the 
splendid discipline of the men that we all were not killed. We must 
lie there till daylight, I told them. Now and again one or the other 
of the men lying with his face glued to the deck and wondering 
whether the next shell would not come our way, would say, 
"Hadn't we better drop off now, sir?" but I said, "Wait till day- 
light." It would have been impossible to get the catamaran any- 
where but on to the shore, where the soldiers stood shooting, and 
I hoped that by daylight we might be recognized and saved. 

It was splendid the way those men behaved. The fire of the 
soldiers, the batteries, and the " Vizcaya " was awful. When the 
water came up on the " Merrimac's " "decks the catamaran floated 
amid the wreckage, but she was still made fast to the boom, and 
we caught hold of the edges and clung on, our heads only being 
above water. 

Shortly after daybreak the adventurers were captured 
by Admiral Cervera himself, who had come out in a 
launch to view the wreck. They were sent to Morro 
Castle while Cervera, who throughout his unfortunate 
career acted the chivalrous Spanish gentleman, dis- 
patched an aide to notify Admiral Sampson that his> 
men were safe. 



492 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

Gallant as was the dash of Hobson into the harbor 
it failed of its purpose. The channel was still open 
and there was no possibility for the fleet to relax its 
vigilance. Sampson thereupon determined to bombard 
the forts, not with much hope of reducing them, but 
rather to determine their power, and perhaps injure 
them so a battleship might safely lie nearer inshore. 

But here again the result was virtual failure. Though 
the fleet attacked with great gallantry — the range at 
times being only eighteen hundred yards — no permanent 
injury was done the forts. They were silenced for a 
time indeed, but the next day were as formidable as 
ever. Had the army been present to cooperate with 
an attack on the landward side the story might have 
been different, but at this time our troops had not made 
a foothold on the island. Still the fire from the ships 
impressed the Spaniards with the power of the force 
confronting them and Sampson notes that after the 
bombardment not a shot was fired from the forts until 
the day when the unfortunate Cervera made his dash 
for freedom and met annihilation. 

The story of the events occurring between the date 
of this bombardment, June 6th, and that of the battle 
of Santiago, July 3rd, must be passed over hastily. 
On the iith a large expeditionary force of marines 
who had been landed at Guantanamo were attacked 
by a superior force of Spaniards and In the fighting 
that followed lost six men. 

It Is a curious fact that in two battles on that date, 
the other being the fight of the torpedo boat " Wins- 
low " at Cardenas, more men of the navy were lost 
than In all the other operations of the war afloat. The 
camp established by the marines was so perfect in sanita- 
tion and the care of the men so scientific that not one 
was lost by sickness to the end of the war — a striking 
fact when compared with the mortality in the camps 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 493 

established by the army when it took the field in Cuba. 
It was on the 21st that the army transports convoyed 
by naval guards brought some seventeen thousand 
troops to the little landing place at Siboney, east of 
Santiago. The voyage from Port Tampa had been 
uneventful, but full of apprehension. A mysterious 
fleet of four Spanish vessels, not identified to this day 
and which came to be known derisively as the " Spook 
fleet," had been reported as hovering in Cuban waters. 
A mere torpedo boat could have sent several of the 
crowded transports to the bottom, but American luck 
held and the invading force was landed in safety. 
Vigorous assaults were made by the navy at various 
points along the coast to divert the Spaniards' attention 
and in one of these the " Texas" was hit by two shells 
that penetrated her unarmored portions and did more 
damage than was sustained by any of our men-of-war 
during the struggle. 

It is no part of the plan of this work to detail 
the operations of the army about Santiago. There 
were hard fighting, heavy loss, and conspicuous illus- 
trations of individual gallantry. Unhappily there was 
also conspicuous weakness in generalship. When Cer- 
vera made his dash from the harbor our troops on the 
surrounding hills were fought to a standstill, and Gen- 
eral Shafter in dispatches to Washington was hinting 
at the need of falling back and relinquishing the ground 
he had won. From the very first there had been a mis- 
understanding between the commanders of the land and 
sea forces. Cervera's fleet was what we were after, 
not the town of Santiago, which was of no strategical 
importance. But the navy could not get at Cervera, 
except by running through a narrow channel, heavily 
mined and commanded by land batteries. If those 
fortresses were captured by a land force — repeated 
efforts to destroy them from the sea having failed — the 



494 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

lighter vessels could have cleared the channel and the 
battleships have entered to give battle to the enemy. 
But until the mines were gone the Administration at 
Washington refused, because of the threatening attitude 
of Europe, to imperil one battleship. It was therefore 
determined that Shafter should move his troops along 
the seafront and attack the forts. For some reason, 
never explained, he abandoned this plan, advanced into 
the interior, and finally placed his army where it could 
neither sei^ve nor be served by the navy. Yet until the 
final catastrophe to the Spanish fleet Shafter was con- 
tinually appealing to Washington and to Sampson direct 
that all perils be braved and the harbor forced. The 
day before the end the admiral wrote in response to 
one of these appeals, speaking of the forts : 

They cannot even prevent our entrance. Our trouble from the 
first has been that the channel to the harbor is well strewn with 
observation mines which would certainly result in the sinking of 
one or more of ships if we attempted to enter the harbor, and by 
the sinking of a ship the object of the attempt to enter the harbor 
would be defeaed by the preventing of further progress on our 
part. It was my hope that an attack on your part of these shore 
batteries from the rear would leave us at liberty to drag the channel 
for torpedoes. 

But, " American luck," which had served so well so 
many times, as for example when at Caimanera the 
" Texas " picked up a contact mine with her propeller, 
and the " Marblehead " struck two more and none of 
the three exploded, though any one should have de- 
stroyed the ship touching it, turned even this dissension 
between the army and the navy into good fortune. 
For on the morning of July 3rd, Admiral Sampson 
concluding that his endeavors to persuade Shafter to 
attack the forts rather than the city could only be made 
effective by a personal interview, hoisted at the fore of 
the flagship the signal, " Disregard the movements o£ 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 495 

the commander-in-chief " and thereupon started for 
SIboney. The day before Admiral Cervera had been 
peremptorily ordered to take his fleet out of Santiago 
harbor. He had protested bitterly. The vessels were 
in no condition, as was shown in the action that fol- 
lowed, for either a run at sea or a battle. But Gov- 
ernor-General Blanco insisted that they should under- 
take the flight and brave its perils. A cable message 
from Madrid — over the only cable left uncut — upheld 
Blanco in his orders. Within a few days the flight 
would have been attempted. But when the watchers 
on the hills at the harbor's mouth saw one of the 
American ships, and that the only one supposed to 
be swift enough to cope with the " Christobal Colon," 
making off to the eastward, Cervera determined to 
take advantage of her absence and make his dash for 
liberty. 

It was a bright Sunday morning — curiously enough 
both of the great naval battles of the Spanish War were 
fought on Sunday — and the crews of the ships lying 
off the mouth of the harbor were mustered on the decks 
for the weekly inspection. This did not mean that there 
was any let up In the vigilance with which the 
harbor's mouth was being watched. From fighting top 
and from bridge glasses were riveted on the narrow 
channel through which the enemy must emerge if it 
should dare to seek battle. The vessels were In their 
ordinary condition, forming an arc of a circle about 
eight miles long. Steam was low in all of them, save 
one, the " Oregon." There was some suspicion that 
something might happen that day, for smoke had been 
seen over the hills that masked the harbor as though 
the Spaniards were getting up steam. But the watchers 
had waited so long that they had almost given up hope. 

Nevertheless they were ready for whatever might 
happen. On every ship the flags that would announce 



496 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

the appearance of the enemy were set aside ready to 
display, and on the " Texas " they were actually bent 
to the halliards with a man standing on guard ready 
to hoist them at the first moment. On the " Oregon " 
was a jacky standing by a loaded six-pounder ready 
to fire the first shot. Every ship in the squadron was 
eager to signal first the appearance of the foe. So 
nearly did all at once catch sight of the dark gray 
bow of a Spanish cruiser moving out from behind the 
hills of Smith Cay that the " 250 " signal, meaning, 
" The enemy is escaping," broke out simultaneously 
from the foremast of every ship and the " Oregon's " 
gun boomed out just as the electric gongs and the 
bugles on all the ships were calling the men to quarters. 
Throwing their spotless white Sunday clothes in every 
direction, stripping to the waist as they dashed for 
their places in turrets and barbettes, to the fighting top, 
fifty feet above the water, and the bowels of the ship, 
twenty feet below it, the men dashed madly for their 
stations, cheering the while as they faced at last the 
opportunity for action which they had awaited for 
long weary weeks. While the honors seem equally 
divided as to which ship first indicated the appearance 
of the enemy, the " Iowa," under command of one of 
America's most popular naval heroes. Captain Robley 
D. Evans, was first to fire on the enemy. Captain 
Evans himself tells the story of the action in his ad- 
mirable book, some portions of which may be quoted: 

As the leading Spanish ship, the flagship " IMaria Teresa," swung 
into the channel leading out from the Punta Gorda, she presented 
a magnificent appearance with her splendid new battle flags and her 
polished brass work. Her bright new coat of paint was in marked 
contrast to the lead-colored, iron-rusted ships that were rushing 
full speed at her. As she passed the Diamond Shoal at the entrance 
to the harbor she swung off to the westward and opened fire smartly 
with her port broadside and turret guns. From this moment the 
battle may be said to have been on, and the roaring of the guns 




Copyright, 13U7, by Underwood & Underwood, N. Y. 



Courtesy of Collier's HVti.y 



PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND ADMIRAL EVANS 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 497 

was incessant. The " VizcaAa " came second, about six hundred 
yards astern of the flagship, followed by the " Colon " and then the 
" Oquendo " bringing up the rear; the torpedo boats "Furor" and 
" Pluton " were not yet in sight. The speed I judged to be about 
eight knots as the ships came down the channel, which was increased 
to thirteen or more as they kept away to the westward in the open 
sea. They came at us like mad bulls, and presented a fine appear- 
ance as I caught sight of them occasionally through the dense smoke 
of our battery. 

It had been my intention from the first to ram or torpedo the 
flagship if I could reach her, and to insure this, I remained, as much 
as I could, in the conning tower at the side of the quartermaster, 
who was steering, watching carefully every move of the wheel and 
directing the man just where to head. I kept the "Maria Teresa" 
open on my starboard bow, so that the guns could have a chance 
at her, until it became evident that I could not ram her or even get 
within torpedo range, when I swung off to port, gave her the full 
benefit of my starboard broadside, and then swung back quickly and 
headed across the bows of the second ship, hoping to be able to reach 
her with my ram. The " Maria Teresa " passed me at a distance of 
about twenty-six hundred yards, and, as she crossed my bows, our 
forward twelve-inch guns were fired, and I was confident that I saw 
both shells strike the Spanish ship. As I flung back for the second 
ship, my port battery opened on the " Maria Teresa " and the star- 
board guns continued to play on the " Vizcaya " and " Colon," which 
were approaching us at great speed. The fire of the first ship had 
been very rapid and accurate when she opened, but it grew ragged 
and inaccurate as the range decreased. I soon found that the 
" Vizcaya " would also pass ahead of me, and that I could not reach 
her with ram or torpedo. I accordingly swung to port, gave her my 
broadside, and, as she passed at nineteen hundred yards, put my 
helm to port and headed in again to try for the next ship. 

At this time the " Colon " came with a great show of speed, pass- 
ing between the leading ships and the shore and much protected by 
their smoke. As she passed she struck me twice — two as beautiful 
shots as I ever saw made by any ship. I had been doing my best 
to fight the " Iowa " from the conning tower, but the temptation to 
see the fight was more than I could resist, and I frequently found 
myself on the bridge, deeply interested in the magnificent spectacle 
about me. It thus happened that I was on the end of the bridge 
when the " Colon " paid her respects to us. The first shell she fired 
at us, through a rent in the smoke, struck on the starboard side a 
little forward of the bridge, about four feet above the water line, 
passed through the cellulose belt, and exploded on the berth deck, 
demolishing the dispensary, breaking almost every medicine bottle 
in it, and doing great damage otherwise. The smells that came up in 
consequence of this explosion were variegated and intense, a mixture 



498 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

of medicine and melinite. The second shell, of the same size as 
the first — about six and a half inches in diameter — struck just at 
the water line and about six to ten feet farther forward, passed 
through the side and into the cellulose belt, where it broke up with- 
out exploding. It, however, made an ugly, jagged hole, eighteen 
inches long and eight inches wide, through which the water poured 
with great rapidity. The cellulose in the coffer dam, which was 
supposed to swell up and stop the shot hole, washed out and floated 
astern in a broad, brown streak. I think the " Colon " fired only 
twice at me, and, as I have stated, she did excellent shooting as far 
as I could see. 

When the " Oquendo " approached me, I found that if I held on 
my course she would pass ahead of me, so I changed and ran 
parallel with her at a distance of about sixteen to fourteen hundred 
yards and opened on her my entire battery, including the rapid-fire 
and machine guns. At this time she was under the concentrated 
fire of several of our ships and the effect was most destructive. 
She rolled and staggered like a drunken thing, and finally seemed to 
stop her engines. I thought she was going to strike her colors, and 
was on the point of ordering the battery to cease firing, when she 
started ahead again and we redoubled our efforts to sink her. As I 
looked at her I could see the shot holes come in her sides and our 
shells explode inside of her, but she pluckily held on her course and 
fairly smothered us with a shower of shells and machine-gun shots. 

In the meantime the Spanish flagship headed for the shore, in 
flames, fore and aft, and soon took the ground about seven miles to 
the west of the entrance to Santiago Harbor, and a few minutes 
later the " Oquendo " followed her, the flames bursting out through 
the shot holes in her sides and leaping up from the deck as high as 
the military tops. It was a magnificent, sad sight to see these 
beautiful ships in their death agonies; but we were doing the work 
we had been educated for, and we cheered and yelled until our 
throats were sore. 

When we were hotly engaged with the last ship, two dense spots 
of black smoke and two long white streaks on the water indicated 
the position of the Spanish torpedo boats as they made their gallant 
dash for liberty. We turned our rapid-fire guns and the after guns 
of the main battery on them, and at the same time other ships 
concentrated on the little gamecocks. In a very short time — not 
more than five minutes, I should say — a splendid column of steam 
mixed with coal dust sprang hundreds of feet in the air, and I 
knew that the boiler of one of them had blown up. A few minutes 
later the second one blew up, and the torpedo boats that had caused 
so much worry to friends and foes alike were things of the past. 
They had given us many sleepless nights, but when it came to the 
test of battle they had done just what many of us thought they 
would do. They had been disabled and destroyed in the shortest 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 499 

possible time. It was almost wicked to waste the lives of brave 
men in such an attempt. 

About this time the flagship " New York " came racing back to 
join in the fight. As she passed the batteries they concentrated a 
heavy fire on her, to which she paid no attention, but fired three 
shots at one of the Spanish torpedo boats and then hurried on, 
coming up directly astern of the " Iowa." She had the " Vizcaya " 
within range of her eight-inch guns for some time before that 
vessel ran ashore, but in order to hit her, would have had to fire 
over the " Iowa " which I suppose was the reason why Captain 
Chadwick held his fire. Afterward, when she passed between me 
and the wreck of the " Vizcaya," as I was hoisting out my boats to 
go to her relief, my men broke into cheers as they made ouf 
Admiral Sampson on the bridge. 

The course of the " Iowa " had carried her inside of the rest of 
the American fleet, and, as I drew up abreast of the two burning 
Spanish ships, on the beach, I could see their crews struggling in 
the water where the shells of our ships seemed to be bursting among 
them. The " Maria Teresa " had a white flag flying forward, which 
I was sure could not be seen by the vessels firing on them, so I 
hoisted the signal, "Enemy's ships have surrendered!" and the fire 
was at once concentrated on the fleeing " Vizcaya." She was soon 
on fire, and ofif Accerraderos turned and headed for the shore, 
smoke and flames pouring from her ports and hatches. The 
" Colon," the last ship of the splendid squadron, was standing to 
the westward, hotly pursued by the " Oregon," " Brooklyn," " Texas," 
and " New York." All the rest were shapeless wrecks on the Cuban 
shore, and nearly six hundred of their gallant officers and men had 
fought their last fight. God and the gunners had had their 
day." . . . 

Presently a boat came alongside bearing Captain Eulate, com- 
mander of the " Vizcaya." That was a sight I shall never forget 
as long as I live. In the stern, supported by one of our naval 
cadets, sat the captain, covered with blood from three wounds, with 
a blood-stained handkerchief about his bare head. Around him sat 
or lay a dozen or more wounded men. In the bottom of the boat, 
which was leaking, was a foot or so of blood-stained water and the 
body of a dead Spanish sailor which rolled from side to side as the 
water swashed about. The captain was tenderly placed in a chair 
and then hoisted to the deck, where he was received with the honors 
due his rank. As the chair was placed on the quarter-deck he 
slowly raised himself to his feet, unbuckled his sword-belt, kissed 
the hilt of his sword, and, bowing low, gracefully presented it to 
me as a token of surrender. I never felt so sorry for a man in all 
my life. Of course I declined to receive the sword, or rather I 
instantly handed it back to Captain Eulate, but accepted the sur- 
render of his officers and men in the name of Admiral Sampson, our 



500 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

commander in chief. My men were all crowded aft about the deck 
and superstructure, and when I declined the sword the brave hearts 
under the blue shirts appreciated my feelings and they cheered until 
I felt ashamed of myself. 

As I supported the captain toward my cabin, he stopped for a 
moment just as we reached the hatch, and drawing himself up to 
his full height, with his right arm extended above his head, ex- 
claimed " Adios, Vizcaya ! " Just as the words passed his lips the 
forward magazine of his late command, as if arranged for the 
purpose, exploded with magnificent effect. Captain Eulate, a sen- 
sitive, passionate man, conducted himself in a way to elicit the 
admiration of all who saw him. After he had been attended to by 
the surgeons he occupied a part of my cabin, and did all in his 
power to aid me in making his officers and men comfortable. 

The experience of the " Iowa " so picturesquely re- 
lated by its commander was in all essentials that of the 
other vessels of the fleet. All were in action, save only 
the luckless " New York," which came up with the 
fleeing enemy in time only to fire two shots. One ship 
which astonished all beholders was the " Texas." She 
had been thought to be the weakest and the slowest 
of the American vessels, but she got into the battle 
early and kept well up with the enemy. Captain Philip, 
her commander, notes that the two big shells which 
found their way into the Spanish vessels were twelve- 
inch shells which were necessarily from the guns of 
the " Texas," as she alone was armed with cannon of 
that calibre. The " Brooklyn," under command of 
Commodore Schley, was, because of her position on 
the blockade, and because of her superior speed, the 
foremost in the race. On this vessel was killed the only 
man lost on the American side during the action, her 
chief yeoman, Ellis, who was standing on the bridge 
within touching distance of the commodore when a 
shell took off his head. During the course of the action 
Commodore Schley ordered the helm of the " Brook- 
lyn " to be put to port, making a " loop " which tem- 
porarily took him away from the Spanish line, but 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 501 

ultimately secured for him a superior position. With 
all the ships blanketed in smoke, for this was prior 
to the days of smokeless powder, this manoeuvre almost 
resulted in a collision between the '' Brooklyn " and the 
" Texas," and did result in later and very bitter attacks 
upon Schley. The movement was condemned by a court 
of inquiry, but with the dissent of its president. Admiral 
George Dewey. 

First of the enemy's ships to meet destruction was 
the " Maria Teresa." She headed the enemy's line as 
it steamed out of the harbor, and as she turned west- 
ward the guns of our entire squadron were brought 
to bear on her. The American shooting was murder- 
ously accurate, and the range scarcely over one mile. It 
was but three-quarters of an hour after the " Maria 
Teresa " appeared when she was driven upon the rocks 
with flames gushing from every port, her ammunition 
exploding and her people facing the alternative of death 
by fire or by drowning. Just then the " Texas " passed 
in swift pursuit of the others. Her men naturally 
began to cheer as they saw the plight of the enemy, 
but Captain Philip from the bridge shouted to all that 
might hear, " Don't cheer, men, those poor devils are 
dying." The phrase goes well with the last words of 
Captain Evans's report of the battle, written while his 
crew were rescuing and caring for the Spanish wounded. 
" I cannot express my admiration for my magnificent 
crew. So long as the enemy showed his flag they fought 
like American seamen, but when the flag came down 
they were as gentle and tender as American women." 
Smallest of all the American vessels was the little 
" Gloucester," formerly the pleasure boat of a Newport 
millionaire. Her commander. Lieutenant Wainwright, 
had been on a man-of-war in the harbor of Havana 
for two months after the sinking of the " Maine," 
and grimly declared he would never set his foot on 



502 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

shore until he could go with an armed force to take 
possession of the city. Now at Santiago he marked as 
his special prey the two torpedo boat destroyers, and 
as soon as they appeared rushed at them with his little 
unarmored boat and a rapid lire of his puny guns. On 
all hands his was declared to be the most reckless daring 
of the entire action. But he got his prey. The 
" Pluton " was driven ashore burning and utterly de- 
stroyed by an explosion; the " Furor" was broken in 
two by the American fire, receiving some heavy shots 
from the big guns of the larger vessels as they passed. 
With these wasps of the sea destroyed there was 
no need for further fighting on the part of the 
" Gloucester " and her crew turned their attention to 
saving life, working as hard at that as they had at 
destroying it. It was a boat from the "Gloucester" 
that picked Admiral Cervera from the water as barely 
a month before he had drawn Lieutenant Hobson to 
safety. 

Swift following upon the end of the " Maria Teresa " 
the " Oquendo " came into range of the four American 
battleships and in forty-nine minutes was broken in 
two and blazing fiercely on the rocks half a mile from 
her sister ship. Meanwhile the " Vizcaya," the best 
of the Spanish cruisers, was fleeing fast, but fell before 
the fire of the " Oregon " and " Brooklyn." Only the 
" Colon " then remained, and she the fastest of the 
Spanish ships was slipping along the coast to the west- 
ward like a hunted fox. She was the special prey of 
the " Oregon." It is a matter of history that as the 
latter ship was rushing through the sea in swift pursuit, 
saving her fire, one gun was discharged at the quarry. 
A moment or two afterwards the chief engineer of the 
" Oregon," grimy with coal dust, came to the deck 
and said to Captain Clark that his men were exhausted 
and fainting from the heat and the work of the stoke 




Photo by The Walter L. HiifT Co. 

BATTLESHIP OF TO-DAY BEFORE LAUNCHING 

(The Utah) 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 503 

hole, but had been so greatly stimulated by the sound 
of the gun that he hoped a few more shots might be 
fired to key them up. The " Colon's " flight was hope- 
less and she too, though but little injured by the Amer- 
ican fire, was run ashore. 

The battle was over with complete victory for the 
navy of the United States. It had lasted less than 
four hours. The first three Span,ish ships to be de- 
stroyed had ended their career in war in exactly one 
hour and a half from the time they appeared. Natu- 
rally the enthusiasm on the American ships was so great 
as to baffle all description, though the Immediate work 
of all hands was to man the boats and rescue the de- 
feated enemy. But perhaps the finest scene In that mo- 
ment of triumph was reported by the war correspondent 
of the New York Sun on the " Texas": 



From the " Oregon " came the jubilant strains of " The Star- 
Spangled Banner." On the bridge of the " Texas " a group of 
hilarious officers surrounded their commander. Captain Philip, who 
seemed noticeably reserved and thoughtful. Suddenly he turned 
to his executive officer, and said quietly : " Call all hands aft ! " 
The five hundred men of the ship trooped to the quarter-deck, which 
was still snow-white with the saltpeter from the guns, and listened 
reverently while Captain Philip offered thanks to God for their 
preservation from the perils of battle. " I want," said the captain, 
as he stood with bared head, " to make public acknowledgment here 
that I have complete faith in God, the Father Almighty. I want all 
of you, officers and crew, unless there be those who have con- 
scientious scruples against so doing, to lift your hats and in your 
hearts offer silent thanks to God." As the strong tones of the 
captain's voice died away, every man stood reverently, for a moment 
or two, with bared and bowed head. Many of the men were much 
affected. In the eyes of more than one brawny Jacky I saw the 
glimmer of a moisture that was hastily brushed away. As the men 
were dispersing, one big fellow called : " Three cheers for our 
captain ! " and they were given with a heartiness that fairly shook 
the ship. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

The End of the War — Its Fruit in Territory and New Problems — 
The International March on Pekin — The Battleship Fleet Goes 
Around the World — Target Practice at Magdalena Bay — The 
New United States Navy and Its Relative Rank — The End. 

The destruction of Cervera's fleet was the virtual end 
of the war. Though the Spaniards in Santiago held out 
stubbornly — sending their three-thousand-ton cruiser 
" Reina Mercedes " to lie on the bed of the channel 
beside the shattered " Merrlmac " — they could only 
defer for a few days the inevitable result. When the 
city fell to the army, though in fact it was the work 
of the navy, done at little cost of human life, which 
ended its resistance, the backbone of Spanish power was 
broken. General Miles took Porto Rico without en- 
countering anything more terrifying on the part of the 
enemy than white flags. On the northern coast of 
Cuba the Spaniards sacrificed one good three-thousand- 
ton cruiser, the " Alphonso III.," well built, though of 
incomplete armament, by sending her out of Havana 
harbor, where she had hidden since the beginning of 
the war. Had her guns been aboard she would have 
been more than a match for the auxiliary vessels that 
attacked her, but as it was she was driven ashore and 
burned. Skirmishes of this sort wound up the continu- 
ously victorious campaign in the West Indies. 

Two rather humorous incidents enlivened the closing 
weeks of the war. Sorely shattered in sea power as 
they were, the Spaniards still had a squadron — on paper 
— at Cadiz under Admiral Camara. As a point of fact 
these ships were not formidable, but that was known 

504 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 505 

only to the officers who manned the unfinished and half- 
armed vessels. But it was what the navy calls " a 
fleet in being," and as such was a menace always to 
be watched. The threat of the Spaniards was to send 
this fleet through the Suez Canal to overwhelm Dewey 
at Manila — a practicable enterprise had the vessels been 
at all in condition. In any event it was a serious 
enough threat to worry our Navy Department and 
people. Even before the destruction of Cervera's ships 
Camara entered the Suez Canal, but was detained there 
for lack of money to pay canal tolls — a lame beginning 
for a great expedition of war which aroused the Amer- 
ican humorist to his best efforts. Another diverting 
feature of the Camara dash was the effort of a New 
York newspaper proprietor to secure a British tramp 
steamer and sink it in the canal to block the way of 
the bankrupt armada. Meantime the Navy Depart- 
ment was taking prompt steps to meet the Spanish 
threat. A considerable squadron was assembled at 
Hampton Roads and the announcement loudly made 
that it was designed to attack the forts of Spain which 
the absence of the Cadiz fleet left unprotected. At 
the same time from San Francisco the cruiser " Charles- 
ton " and the monitors " Monadnock " and " Mon- 
terey " were ordered to Manila. 

The " Charleston " was first to sail and on the way 
across the ocean stopped at the desolate island of Guam, 
then a Spanish province. A pigmy fort near the har- 
bor's mouth was flying the Spanish flag and Captain 
Glass, commanding, fired two or three shells at it, then 
went on into the harbor. Hardly had the cruiser 
dropped anchor when a small boat flying a Spanish 
flag and bearing a Spanish officer in full uniform came 
alongside. The guest was received on the quarter-deck 
by Captain Glass, who fortunately spoke Spanish flu- 
ently. 



5o6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

" Captain," said the visitor, " I have come to apolo- 
gize for not returning your salute." 

"My salute?" asked Glass perplexed. "What 
salute? " 

" Why, you did fire a salute as you passed the fort, 
but our saluting battery is out of order, and we shall 
have to delay answering until later in the day." 

" My dear sir," exclaimed the astonished American, 
" is it possible you don't know that your country and 
mine are at war? I fired shells at your fort and am 
here to demand its surrender and that of the town." 

The surrender was promptly completed and the joke 
seemed to be on the Spaniards, who had not heard of the 
war. Glass, however, for some time, felt an uneasy 
consciousness that the gunnery which permitted those 
shells to impress their target so little was not quite up 
to the mark. The three vessels in due time reached 
Manila, though by their arrival the need for them was 
past — indeed the peace protocol had been signed before 
the " Monadnock " arrived. The voyage was a cruel 
one for the men confined below in ships, the low decks 
of which were almost constantly awash- " The trip 
through the tropics," wrote the captain of the " Mon- 
terey," " was very trying on officers and men. The 
temperature of the sea water has been eighty-five to 
eighty-seven degrees; the temperature of the air seventy- 
five to ninety-five degrees, and with the engines and 
boilers in use there was no chance for the heat to 
radiate. Hence the temperatures in the ships have 
been very high — fireroom from one hundred and ten 
to one hundred and thirty degrees; engine-room one 
hundred and ten to one hundred and forty degrees; 
dynamo-room from one hundred and five to one hundred 
and thirty degrees; crew space eighty-six to ninety-nine 
degrees. Men have been overcome in the coal bunkers, 
fireroom and evaporating-room with heat exhaustion and 



•#K* --.fi^ibh^M t-ik :.' i- 




FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 507 

the health of the ship's company has been affected by 
living in such high temperatures." 

Before the second monitor had reached Manila the 
city had yielded to the combined guns of the army and 
navy; the fleet of Camara had returned from the Red 
Sea to protect the coasts of Spain from the threatened 
visit of an American squadron, the peace protocol had 
been signed, and the war was over. 

Thereafter until the date of the writing of this book 
the work of the navy had been mainly that of peace, 
and of the development drill so necessary to assure pre- 
paredness for war. Not but that there was active 
service in a way and powder burned in anger. 

The spluttering fires of rebellion persisted long in 
the Philippines where the natives, rudely cheated of 
their long cherished hopes of absolute independence, 
kept up for years much the same guerilla resistance to 
American authority as the Cubans had against Spanish 
rule. It is probable that our experience after the war 
led our people to be much more charitable to our fallen 
foes than they had been before the conflict. We found 
ourselves obliged to apply to the insurrection many of 
the harsh methods which the Spaniards had employed. 

We entered upon the war explicitly denying any pur- 
pose to add to our territory. We emerged from it the 
owners of Porto Rico, Guam, and the populous Philip- 
pines; with Cuba nominally free, but actually under our 
control and ready to drop into our ownership at any 
moment. And we have found that Spain, relieved of 
these incumbrances, has advanced industrially and com- 
mercially, while the complete triumph of our arms won 
for us a burden rather than a benefit; a big bunch of 
liabilities rather than of assets. 

During the period of comparative quiescence in the 
first decade of the twentieth century the most notable 
service in which the navy engaged was the expedition 



5o8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

to relieve the legations at Pekin. China, always seeth- 
ing with sedition and brimming with bitter hatred of 
the " foreign devils," was suddenly overwhelmed with 
an insurrection cunningly planned by a secret society, 
the I-Ho-Ch'uan, signifying the " Fist of Righteous 
Harmony." This picturesque designation was too com- 
plicated for foreigners, who called the rebels " Boxers." 
Rebels they were only nominally. Their avowed pur- 
{K)se was to drive all foreigners out of China, and in 
this they had the secret sympathy of the Empress Dow- 
ager, the real despot of the nation. The trade of the 
United States with the Orient, then reaching thirty-two 
million dollars a year, was threatened and the lives 
of more than two thousand Americans resident in China 
put in jeopardy. The agitation was not directed against 
Americans alone, but all foreigners, and one of the 
first to suffer by it was the German minister. Baron 
von Ketteler, who was fatally stabbed as he was riding 
in the streets of Pekin. Shortly after this the situation 
became so menacing that the American legation was 
fortified and twenty-five marines from the " Newark," 
a company of blue-jackets and two guns, one a Colt's 
automatic, were sent to the legation for its defence. 
Presently thereafter marines and blue-jackets were sent 
to Tientsin. Then international complications set in. 
Every civilized nation was represented by naval detach- 
ments, all wanted to take part in any military movement 
for the suppression of the rebellion, and each wished to 
be in the lead. It was left to an American naval officer, 
Captain McCalla, whose life service has seen as many 
exciting incidents as that of any one in the navy, to 
break the bonds of diplomatic intrigue. " If no other 
nation is willing to march on Pekin," said he, " I will 
lead my force alone." This assertion ended the diplo- 
matic quarrel. No representative of a foreign nation 
was willing to be unrepresented in the march upon the 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 509 

Chinese capital. In the end the marines and blue-jack- 
ets of the United States, Great Britain, Japan, Germany, 
France, Austria, and Italy joined in the expedition. It 
was a hard-fighting but futile march. When within 
forty miles of Pekin the invaders discovered that the 
Imperial forces of China had made common cause with 
the Boxers, had cut the communications with Tientsin, 
and the expedition was forced to return. There was 
plenty of hard fighting, for the enemy, though undis- 
ciplined and badly armed, greatly outnumbered the allied 
forces and fought with the rage and courage born of fa- 
naticism. But Tientsin was reached, the foreign quar- 
ters protected, and the native city captured. That ac- 
complished, a new march was made to Pekin and the le- 
gations were relieved. It was none too soon. Crowded 
into the compound of the American legation were a 
multitude of women and children, guarded by a mere 
handful of fighting men. No truthful word as to their 
condition had reached the outer world. But a multi- 
plicity of rumors, many fabricated In cold blood by 
correspondents at Hong Kong, Shanghai, and other 
points far distant from the scene, stirred not merely 
the American nation, but all Europe into a frenzied 
apprehension for the safety of the beleaguered ones. 
Stories of the most incredible atrocities were current in 
the press of all civilized nations. The Honorable John 
D. Long, then Secretary of the Navy, has put it on record 
that he was the one member of the President's Cabinet 
who did not believe that the entire colony of diplomats 
and attaches at Pekin had been massacred. Natu- 
rally, therefore, when the international expedition after 
attaining a point within forty miles of the Chinese 
capital found itself compelled to turn and retrace its 
steps to Tientsin, there was an almost world-wide cry 
of disappointment and of protest. But it was not the 
fault of the leaders of the expedition, whether American 



5IO STORY OF OUR NAVY 

or European. The whole trouble arose from the fact 
that the foreign governments had underestimated the 
power and the unity of the Chinese forces. They had 
sent out a posse to subdue a riot; they encountered in 
fact a nation in arms. It was only by the most desperate 
and persistent fighting that the expeditionary force re- 
gained its base at Tientsin. Captain McCalla, who was 
second in command, was wounded three times during 
the march. When eight miles from Tientsin the column 
captured the Chinese imperial arsenal near Hsiku, but 
were there so surrounded by a superior force that it 
was necessary to send out a runner to secure relief. 
More American marines and blue-jackets then joined 
the force on shore and within a comparatively few days 
the navy had landed several hundred fighting men wear- 
ing the blue of the United States. Japan and Germany, 
France and England then joined with suitable forces, 
and the second march on Pekin, though bitterly con- 
tested every mile of the way, was successfully accom- 
plished. When the Chinese capital was entered and 
the legations relieved, it was found that the rumors of 
the assassination of the ministers and the torturing of 
their families were happily without foundation. There 
had been steady fighting, much suffering and daily appre- 
hension of the worst. Many of the brave defenders 
had fallen, but the diplomats were safe. By way of 
discipline and the assertion of the power of the United 
States and its allies the Chinese imperial government 
was compelled to throw open what is known as " The 
Forbidden City *' to a triumphal parade of the allied 
forces through its boundaries, theretofore always 
shrouded from the gaze of any save the aristocracy 
of the Chinese Empire. The march of the marines and 
the blue-jackets to Pekin was not merely a piece of 
gallant campaigning, but has had its influence upon the 
world's history and the world's development. It opened 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 511 

China to civilization no less than did Perry in 1852 
introduce Japan to the sisterhood of the progressive 
nations of the world. And as Japan, to-day standing 
on a plane of equality with the foremost peoples, ex- 
presses its gratitude to the great Republic which, against 
the Japanese will, forced modern civiHzation upon her, 
so China has begun to express its gratification that, by 
the suppression of the Boxer rebellion, and by the rude 
shattering of ancient superstitions, the United States 
opened the way for her to take the place to which her 
age and her great population entitle her. 



No peaceful duty ever performed by our navy, or, 
for that matter, any other of modern times, excelled in 
picturesqueness or was more successful than the famous 
cruise of sixteen battleships around the world in 1907- 
08. It might be thought a very simple thing to take 
sixteen of them on the same journey. But as a matter 
of fact a battleship, ponderous as it is, with its enormous 
weight of armor and of guns, and its vast quantity 
of machinery, is a complex and delicate affair. Its very 
massiveness adds to its delicacy, for its bottom can be 
no thicker than that of the ordinary steel ship, and to 
touch a rock or a sandbar with the enormous weight 
above means certain disaster. Admiral Evans, who 
commanded the fleet during its voyage around Cape 
Horn to San Francisco, lays great stress upon the diffi- 
culty of getting the ships ready, though several months 
were permitted for preparations. The problems were 
diverse and perplexing. International politics did not 
lessen them. The fleet was to go into the Pacific at 
the time when an agitation against the Japanese in Cal- 
ifornia and other Pacific coast states was thought by 
many to put in jeopardy the friendly relations between 
the two countries. Newspapers and public men sin- 



512 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

cerely believed that sending this colossal fleet of fighting 
ships into the Pacific would be regarded by Japan as 
an unfriendly act and might bring on war. The people 
of the Atlantic coast protested against being deprived 
of their chief naval defence. So far as the possibility 
of the fleet's causing a war, or its dispatch to the Pacific 
being intended to avert a war, the authorities held their 
peace, not only during the duration of the voyage, but 
until the present day. Yet there was ample cause for 
national reflection in Admiral Evans's light remark 
when all preparatory work was done, that the fleet was 
" fit for a frolic or a fight," and even more so in Presi- 
dent Roosevelt's words of farewell at the last moment : 

Remember, Admiral Evans, you sail with the confidence of the 
President more completely than any admiral ever did before; your 
cruise is a peaceful one, but you realize your responsibility if it 
should turn out otherwise. 

But to make that fleet fit for a fight or a frolic took 
time and thought. First of all drill in fleet evolutions 
at sea was essential. Ten of the ships were new ; had 
never been handled in fleet formation. Many of the 
officers had but little experience. One or two battleships 
had never fired their guns even to test the sights. 
Target practice was imperative. There were still vet- 
erans of the Spanish War in the turrets and on the 
berth-decks, but not enough to instil warlike skill into 
all the fourteen thousand men who would make the 
voyage. " It was my job," writes Evans, " and my 
responsibility, rendered greater by many discouraging 
obstacles and handicaps, to see that this fleet, though 
on the most peaceable mission possible, was ready to 
fight at the drop of a hat." To this end for long weeks 
there was daily target practice, and ceaseless repetitions 
of drills at sea. Yet with all possible diligence every- 
thing could not be completed before the sailing day, 
December i6th. The system of electrical fire control 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 513 

on the ships, by which the discharge of all the guns 
can be regulated from one central point, was not com- 
pleted when the ships sailed and had to be finished at 
sea, as was the case with the installation of the wireless 
telegraph system. Something of the magnitude of the 
former task may be judged from the fact that miles of 
wire had to be strung within each ship. 

And then there was the coal supply to be considered. 
A fleet of battleships does not start out on a world-wide 
cruise and trust to luck to find coal. Colliers had to 
be found, loaded with coal and sent ahead to deposit 
it at points convenient for the ships. As for provisions 
the men of this fleet were not to subsist on the time- 
honored navy diet of hard tack and " salt horse." 
Two special supply ships loaded with food were to 
accompany the fleet, besides which the refrigerating 
rooms of each battleship were stocked with fresh meat. 
Turkey for the Christmas dinner to the amount of forty 
thousand pounds, thirty-five thousand pounds of Bo- 
logna sausage; eight hundred and fifty thousand pounds 
of fresh beef; ten thousand dozen fresh and nine thou- 
sand dozen dried eggs ; one hundred and forty thousand 
pounds of onions; fifteen thousand pounds of jam and 
fifteen thousand pounds of chewing tobacco were among 
the contributions to Jack's light appetite. As for candy, 
it ran into the tons, for the blue-jackets afloat have a 
very sweet tooth. 

When all was ready the fleet — sixteen battleships, six 
destroyers, the gunboat " Yorktown," which served as 
a dispatch boat, and the supply and repair ships, worth 
in all one hundred million dollars and carrying fourteen 
thousand men — all gathered at Hampton Roads to be 
reviewed by the President. The little fellows sailed 
without waiting for the review, since their limited capac- 
ity compelled them to dodge from port to port seeking 
coal. But on December i6th, punctual to the day and 



514 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

to the hour, anchors were hfted, and with flags flying, 
bands playing and cannon booming, a farewell salute, 
the armada moved out to sea on its globe-circling trip. 
Into the details of this trip it is impossible to go at 
length here. It was one long drill while the ships 
were under way; one round of giving and receiving en- 
tertainment in port. A newspaper correspondent on the 
" Louisiana," who set forth thinking a voyage on a 
battleship would be something akin to a yachting cruise, 
enumerates as the day's duties from 3 A.M. to 8 140 p.m. 
forty-six different counts, each proclaimed by a bugle 
call. There is little loafing on a man-of-war. When 
nothing else was doing there was the unremitting watch 
for signals from the flagship, and the steady strain 
of keeping the exact distance of four hundred yards 
between the ships. At Magdalena Bay, in Lower Cal- 
ifornia, where the ships stopped some weeks for target 
practice. Admiral Evans said to one of his captains, 
" I hope your officers have learned something on this 
cruise." 

" Thirteen thousand miles at four hundred yards, 
night and day," was the answer, " including the Straits 
of Magellan; yes, they've learned a lot." 

Of the receptions given to the fleet at both foreign 
and home points little need be said here. The pageant 
made foreigners admire and fear, and Americans ap- 
plaud and exalt the new navy of the United States. 
But some description of what target practice means 
on a modern man-of-war may interest readers. I quote 
from Mr. Franklin Matthews, the correspondent of the 
New York Sun : 

As has been said, the preparations for this target practice began 
as soon as the fleet was out of Hampton Roads. There was the 
daily drill of hours and hours at Morris tube practice, where the 
men shoot at little targets from little rifles attached to the big guns. 
The targets are kept in motion and every man has to shoot his 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 515 

string of so many shots. The division officer soon comes to know 
which men have the sharpest eye, the steadiest hand, the coolest 
temperament and in time the pointers and trainers are selected and 
each man has his post assigned to him. And when the miniature 
target shooting is over for the day there is the team work drill with 
dummy projectiles and powder bags and day by day the men become 
expert in making this exact step and avoiding that false move, and 
show increasing deftness and zeal. They learned just how far to 
lean back and move their heads when the gun darts past their 
faces in its lightning recoil, and those who have never heard a big 
gun go off try to imagine what the roar will be like, and to nerve 
themselves not to mind it any more than a firecracker's report. 

But it is time to shoot. Every one now is calm and eager to 
begin. The bos'n and three launches and two boats' crews go out and 
put up the first targets. The ship gets under way and steams about 
slowly until she gets the proper headway of a predetermined speed. 
The men at the targets set them up and steam away to a buoy a 
quarter of a mile from the target. Slowly the ship swings out and 
comes on the range just grazing the buoys that mark the path. The 
men are at the guns. The outward buoy is passed and then the ship 
approaches the first buoy where the firing is to begin. The exact 
range of that point is known. The elevation of the gun is known 
as is also the deflection. You know the sights have to be right on 
the target, but the gun itself has to be aimed a little to one side, 
so as to account for the side movement of the projectile, due to the 
ship's movement as it flies through the air. What is called fire con- 
trol determines just how much the gun must be elevated and how it 
must be deflected at a certain instant. There is a man at the gun 
who turns little wheels and adjusts gauges and he gets word from 
some one else just what to do and when to do it. Never mind how 
this is communicated to him. Meantime one man has been training 
the gun sideways, and another has been raising or lowering it 
independently of the man who has been setting the deflection and 
fixing the range. When the cross wires in the gun pointer's tele- 
scope are right on the bull's eye and it is time to fire he pulls a 
trigger and the electrical apparatus sends a lightning impulse into 
the powder, there is a roar, a thin cloud of smoke from the primer, 
a flash and you look for the splash to see if it is a hit. 

As the ship proceeds along the base of the triangle the deflection 
and range have to be changed constantly. The change is greatest 
at the end of the run. Along about the centre when you are just 
opposite the target the changes are slight, but it is just as hard to 
hit the target. All these changes are matters of fractions of a 
second. It is not deliberate work, but it is done carefully, and that 
is where the element of training comes in. 

The first roar of a gun sends a thrill through the ship. The man 
who has fired it is nervous. If it's a miss he steadies himself at 



5i6 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

once. Rare is it that the second shot is a miss. The gun-shy part 
of that man's career is over. He is now as cool as if he were 
whistling Yankee Doodle. Bang and crack go his shots. Perhaps 
the gases obscure his vision to some extent. He waits an instant 
before he fires. Pump, pump goes the trigger. He's got the range, 
he's got his nerve, he knows when he hits and when he misses. It's 
a big contest and his tools of trade are the confined element of 
destruction with the accumulated scientific skill of decades behind 
him, and the result depends upon his clear vision and steady hand. 
The task inspires him, his face is drawn tense, he forgets every- 
thing else, he becomes part of that machine of destruction, an 
automaton. . . . 

When the time comes for the practice of the great guns no red 
paint is needed to mark the hits. You can see the projectiles as 
they near the target, needle-like things that seem to fly with the 
speed of lightning. You can see the holes they make if you take 
a glass. Their roar is dull and the shake of the ship is a powerful 
tremor. Your ears are not smitten as with the smaller guns, but 
the shock is tremendous. You are close to the manifestation of a 
terrific force. But if you wish to see the best part of the work 
you must go into the casemate where the firing is done. Ah ! there 
is where the team work is going on. 

Take a seven-inch gun. The word to commence firing is passed, 
powder and projectiles are all ready. The gun captain throws open 
the breech lock. The men lift the projectile and place it in the 
breech. Scarcely have they removed their tray before a long 
wooden rammer is thrust in, and the projectile which has been care- 
fully smoothed off and oiled is run home and seated. Get out of 
the way quick, rammer, for the powder bags are being thrust in ! 
Don't make a false step, for you may hinder some one who has just 
one thing to do in the shortest possible time. 

The charge is now home. The gun captain whisks the breech 
into place, the primer is attached, and then the captain slaps the 
pointer on the back or cries. Ready ! All this time the gun is being 
trained the range and deflection has been changed, and instantly 
there is a roar, a blinding flash. The members of the crew close 
to the gun move just far enough back to escape the recoil, like a 
prizefighter when he throws his head back and escapes a blow by a 
fraction of an inch. 

Open comes the breech in a flash, then another charge on it, 
another slap on the back, another roar, and it's a hit or a n^iss. 
Then a third charge and another and another. The men sweat and 
breathe hard, their faces become strained and some of them white. 
The fight is on, and the work, second by second by second, every 
one of them valuable as hours would be ordinarily, saps the strength 
and energy of the men in that supreme effort. 

" Every shot a hit ! " cries one of the men exultingly. . . . 

But the twelve-inch guns ! Pack the cotton well into your ears ! 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 517 

Keep your mouth open ! Stand as far away from the muzzle as 
you can on the ship ! Secure all the things in your stateroom, for 
if you don't you may find your shaving mug on the floor and your 
hair brush mixed up with fragments of your soap dish. Close your 
port or else your trinkets may be whisked into a heap and some of 
them broken to pieces. The whistle has blown. The seconds go by 
oh how slowly. Will they never get that gun loaded? Then comes 
a blast. The white flame seems brighter than sunlight, the roar runs 
through you like an electric shock, the decks seem to sink, and you 
wonder if the eruption of Mount Pelee had more force than that. 
You look toward the target. There goes the projectile straight 
through the bull's eye. Then an enormous geyser leaps into the air 
more than a hundred feet high. Surely that is Old Faithful. 
Then comes another half a mile away, then another and another, 
and you wonder if the projectile is going clear over to Europe. 



So day by day the work of target practice at Magdala 
Bay, surrounded by arid and uninhabited shores, and 
screened from watchful eyes, goes on for a month. 
Then up the Pacific Coast to San Francisco the fleet 
proceeds, officers an^ men being lavishly entertained at 
every port. It is a great sight for the Pacific, and a 
great benefit to the navy, for as a result of the display 
no section of the country becomes more enthusiastic 
over a greater navy than these Pacific commonwealths. 
At San Francisco there is a double change of com- 
manders. Admiral Evans, broken in health, and suffer- 
ing cruelly with the pain of his wounds, received at 
Fort Fisher, retires. Admiral Thomas succeeds him, 
only to be taken with a fatal illness. Admiral Sperry 
thereupon takes command of the fleet, charged with con- 
ducting it on the remainder of its voyage around the 
world. To him and to the officers and men the Presi- 
dent sent a congratulatory dispatch ending, " You have, 
in a peculiar sense, the honor of the United States in 
your keeping and therefore no body of men in the world 
at this moment enjoy a greater privilege or carry a 
heavier responsibility." 

From San Francisco the long voyage across the Pacific 



5i8 STORY OF OUR NAVY 

brings the ships to Japan. Here where certain unfriend- 
liness had been apprehended nothing was met but en- 
thusiastic hospitality. The frolic and not the fight was 
the order of the day, and the newspaper critics who 
thought that the fleet in Japanese waters would be a 
menace, found it instead an incentive to international 
friendship. The officers were entertained by the 
Mikado, the men by the people of Japan. In the 
ports they visited official placards were put up ordering 
shopkeepers to refrain from charging extra prices for 
their goods, and even directing the people on the streets 
to avoid staring at the Americans or indulging in any 
demonstrations likely to cause turbulence. Indeed at 
every point on the remainder of the long voyage the 
reception of the fleet was most hearty and its contribu- 
tion to the friendship of nations a notable one. It 
reached the Mediterranean by way of the Suez Canal 
just at the time of the terrible disaster at Messina, and 
the " Connecticut," " Vermont," " Massachusetts," and 
" Kansas " were sent to that point to aid the sufferers 
and assist in the policing of the ruined city. Once 
in the Mediterranean the fleet was long split into sec- 
tions to reassemble at Hampton Roads February 22nd. 
First of the- ships to reach a home port was the 
" Maine," which had been detached from the fleet. 
She entered Portsmouth harbor October 19th after 
a voyage of thirty-six thousand miles. She had been 
at sea three hundred days, much of which time had been 
spent in friendly ports. Her coal consumption was 
twenty-two thousand tons for the trip. The fleet as a 
whole reassembled at Hampton Roads on Washington's 
birthday, there to be reviewed by the President, who 
had bade them God speed little more than a year earlier. 
Its performance in circumnavigating the globe, not 
merely without disaster, but without injury to, or ex- 
haustion of, its machinery was hailed by naval experts in 





^^v'tL 




FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 519 

all parts of the world as an unprecedented achievement. 

The United States navy, which in 1884 was so puny 
as to be ignored by all nations, now admittedly ranks 
as second in the list of fighting forces afloat. Her 
claim to this eminence is contested by Germany alone, 
but statistics show the German contention to be ill- 
founded. In gross tonnage of fighting vessels afloat 
we ranked in December, 1909 — the date of the latest 
official report — second. In battleship tonnage afloat 
or in the yard we were second only to England; 
so too with cruisers. In the years 1905-09 we 
completed of the ships now chiefly counted in figuring 
naval power — battleships and armored cruisers — thirty 
to Germany's sixteen. The race for second place is 
a close one, with the United States now in the lead. 
At one point we lag curiously far behind. With forty- 
four thousand, one hundred and twenty-nine enlisted 
blue-jackets, practically the same number as serve Ger- 
many, France or Japan, we have twenty-eight flag 
officers as against sixty-eight in Japan, forty-five in 
France and thirty-six in Germany; and eleven hundred 
and seventy-seven line oflScers and engineers as against 
about two thousand, six hundred for each of the fore- 
going nations. The United States navy is clearly under- 
officered, a curious contrast to the condition of 1884 as 
heretofore noted. Withal our naval expenditures since 
1905 have averaged almost twice as much annually as 
those of any country save Great Britain, due to our 
proper policy of building our ships at home, where the 
cost of material and of labor is much higher than abroad. 
Comparisons as to the relative strength of our navy are 
not made with that of Great Britain for the reason that 
the settled British policy of maintaining its navy at 
ten per cent, more than the strength of any two con- 
tinental nations combined makes such a comparison 



520 



STORY OF OUR NAVY 



meaningless. The table on this page shows the full 
registered strength of the vessels in the United States 

SUMMARY OF VESSELS IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY 



TYPE 


Fit for 

service, 

including 

those under 

repair 


Under 
construc- 
tion 


■0 


D 

< 


Unfit 
for sea 
service 


Total 


First-class battleships , 

Second-class battleship 


27 

I 

12 

I 

4 
6 
22 
3 
3 
9 


at 






33 
1 


Armored cruisers 








12 


Armored ram 








I 


Single-turret harbor-defence mon- 
itors 








4 
6 


Double-turret monitors 








Protected cruisers 








22 


Unprotected cruisers 








3 
3 
9 

I 


Scout cruisers 








Gunboats 








Gunboat for Great Lakes (not 
begun) 




I 




Light-draft gunboats 


3 

8 

I 

2 

I 

2 

12 

17 

33 

I 

12 

3 

5 

5 

44 

5 

21 

15 
8 
2 
4 
3 




3 

8 


Composite gunboats 

Training ship (Naval Academy), 
sheathed 
















Training ships 










Training brigantine 










Special class (Dolphin, Vesuvius) 
Gunboats under 500 tons 


















Torpedo-boat destroyers 

Steel torpedo boats 

Wooden torpedo boat 


19 






36 
33 












Submarine torpedo boats 


16 


4 




12 


Iron cruising vessels, steam 

Wooden cruising vessels, steam. . 
Wooden sailing vessels 


3 
9 
7 






4 
2 


I 




Tugs 


45 

5 

21 

23 
8 
2 

Q 


Auxiliary cruisers 






Converted yachts 

Colliers 

Transports and supply ships 

Hospital ships . 

Receiving ships 


' " ' 6 


2 


5 
I 


Prison ships. 












Total 


295 


48 


7 


12 


362 



" Two of these were completed early in January, 1910. 

navy on March 22, 19 10. Many of these vessels are of 
course antiquated, but all are held fit for service of some 
kind unless noted otherwise in the table. 



FOR YOUNG AMERICANS 521 

From its earliest days nothing but honor has attached 
to the record of the United States navy. It has at 
times been outclassed by its enemy, as when in 18 12 it 
boldly offered battle to the greatest of all naval powers. 
But even when defeat came, as it must come occasionally 
to the ships of even the most notable sea power, the 
blue-jackets of the United States have never failed to 
give a good account of themselves. Perhaps to-day the 
most notable feature of the naval situation in the United 
States is the fact that after a war in which we were 
overwhelmingly successful, the work of developing and 
extending our naval force was not allowed to lapse, as 
heretofore had been the case, but was taken up with 
renewed enthusiasm and pride. We have thought of 
the fleet under Admiral Evans as being a record breaker 
for power in American naval annals. But as these lines 
are being written a still more powerful fleet assembled 
without any pomp or ceremony and attracting but little 
attention, is engaged in the stern business of war ma- 
noeuvres and battle practice off the coast of New Eng- 
land. The American people have come to consider the 
navy as essential a part of their governmental activities 
and expenses as the courts or Congress itself. Not 
believing it necessary to emulate Great Britain or to 
engage in the illogical and extravagant contest for ab- 
solute naval supremacy which is burdening the people 
of continental Europe, they are nevertheless convinced 
of the need of a fighting force powerful enough to de- 
fend our far-spread coast lines. Naval appropriations 
will not grow less and the navy will not hold a less 
warm place in the hearts of the American people. They 
have confidence that should another conflict come upon 
the ocean, names then will spring into public notice well 
fit to rank with Paul Jones, Perry, Hull, Farragut, 
Dewey, Schley, and Sampson. 



OCT 1 t^i 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



iJcr ^^miC 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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